62021TJ0116_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 2 February 2022 –Maternus v EUIPO – adp Gauselmann (WILD)
(Case T‑116/21)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark WILD – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 52(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
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
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 20, 50)
2.
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
(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see para. 21)
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 – Word mark WILD
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 27, 36, 41, 46, 53, 54, 58)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity – Date of lodging the application for registration
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7 and 52(1)(a))
(see para. 38)
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 – Concept of characteristic
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see para. 45)
6.
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 – Existence of other signs or indications to designate the same characteristics – Irrelevant
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see para. 47)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 December 2020 (Case R 932/2019-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between adp Gauselmann and Maternus.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Maternus GmbH to pay the costs.