62021TJ0086_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 2 March 2022 –Distintiva Solutions v EUIPO – Makeblock (Makeblock)
(Case T‑86/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Makeblock – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – No descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Mark not of such a nature as to mislead the public – Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Pleas in law not set out in the application – General reference to other documents – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see para. 22)
2.
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
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 35, 36, 38-40)
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 – Figurative mark Makeblock
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 45-50, 54-56)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 63, 65)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark Makeblock
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 70, 71, 74, 79, 80, 83)
6.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see para. 89)
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; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see para. 97)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Distintiva Solutions S. Coop. Pequeña to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 110, 29.3.2021.