Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 10 September 2015 —
Laverana v OHIM (BIO organic)
(Case T‑610/14)
Community trade mark — Application for Community figurative mark BIO organic— Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009
1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 14)
2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods — Aim — Need to preserve availability (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 15)
3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods — Figurative mark BIO organic (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 16-18, 20, 24)
4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), and 75) (see para. 19)
5.                     Actions for annulment — Grounds — Misuse of powers — Concept (Art. 263 TFEU) (see para. 26)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 2 June 2014 (Case R 301/2014-4) concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign BIO organic as a Community trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Laverana GmbH & Co. KG to bear the costs.