62023TJ0114_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 8 November 2023 –Papier-Mettler v EUIPO (Shape of a bag)
(Case T‑114/23) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Application for a three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of a bag – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment – Shape in question being a ‘variant’ of the habitual shapes of the type of products concerned – Fact not sufficient to establish distinctiveness of the mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 10, 12-14, 23, 46, 47, 52, 57, 58)
2.
EU trade mark – Mark not fulfilling its fundamental function – No general interest in conferring thereon the protection referred to by Regulation 2017/1001
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraph 11)
3.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Recognition of the distinctive character of the sign not subject to a finding of a specific level of linguistic or artistic creativity or imaginativeness
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraph 15)
4.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of a bag
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 31-34, 37-39, 41, 42, 49-51, 53-55)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders each party to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 127, 11.4.2023.