62024TO0085_INF
Order of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 30 January 2025 –Münchner Wohnen v EUIPO – (Münchner Wohnen)
(Case T‑85/24)
(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark Münchner Wohnen – Absolute ground for refusal – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Duty to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
1.
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, second para.; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraph 16)
2.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Concept of distinctiveness
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 26, 27)
3.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 28, 29, 41)
4.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character of a sign – Circumstance necessarily implying absence of distinctive character of the sign
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))
(see paragraph 30)
5.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Word mark Münchner Wohnen
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 39, 40, 42-44, 48)
6.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good 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 paragraph 47)
7.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraph 50)
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed.
2.
Each party shall bear its own costs.