Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 5 December 2017 — El Corte Inglés v EUIPO — Elho Business & Sport (FREE STYLE)
(Case T‑213/16)
(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark FREE STYLE — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Article 76 of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 95 of Regulation 2017/1001) — Equal treatment)
1.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — 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 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 14)
2.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Meaning — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paras 17, 18)
3.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — 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
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 19)
4.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Word mark FREE STYLE
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c) and (2))
(see paras 21, 22, 25-46)
5.      EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal against a decision of the Opposition Division of EUIPO — Examination by the Board of Appeal — Scope — Facts and evidence not produced in support of the opposition within the period prescribed for that purpose — Account taken — Discretion of the Board of Appeal
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76(2))
(see paras 50-52)
6.      EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case
(see paras 59, 60)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 February 2016 (Case R 378/2015-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Elho Business & Sport and El Corte Inglés.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders El Corte Inglés, SA, to pay the costs.