62020TJ0098_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 10 February 2021 –Biochange Group v EUIPO – mysuperbrand (medical beauty research)
(Case T‑98/20)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark medical beauty research – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptiveness – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Consideration of the facts – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para. and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see para. 26)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))
(see para. 36)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 37, 70)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria – Perception of the trade mark by the relevant public – Attention level of the public
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 38, 40, 44, 46, 56, 57)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark medical beauty research
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 60, 65-67, 78, 85, 87-95)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 40/94 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity – Date of lodging the application for registration
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 72, 73)
7.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and (c) and 51(1)(a))
(see para. 99)
8.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark medical beauty research
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 101, 107, 108)
9.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 104, 105)
10.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))
(see para. 106)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 November 2019 (Case R 114/2019-2) relating to invalidity proceedings between Laubender and Biochange Group.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 8 November 2019 (Case R 114/2019-2) as regards ‘baby food’ in Class 5 of the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders Biochange Group GmbH, EUIPO and mysuperbrand GmbH each to bear their own costs.