62021TJ0777_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 21 December 2022 –Trend Glass v EUIPO (ECO STORAGE)
(Case T‑777/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark ECO STORAGE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Legal certainty – 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 – Concept
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 12-14, 16)
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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 15, 61)
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 – Concept of characteristic
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 17, 18)
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 – Figurative mark ECO STORAGE
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 47, 49-54, 57, 63)
5.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraphs 73, 74)
6.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Duty of diligence
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))
(see paragraph 75)
7.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraphs 79, 80)
8.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Refusal of registration based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Whether sufficient
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))
(see paragraph 88)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Trend Glass sp. z o.o. to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 51, 31.1.2022.