62019TJ0571_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 26 March 2020 –Muratbey Gida v EUIPO (Shape of a twisted cheese)
(Case T‑571/19)
(EU trade mark — Application for a three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a twisted cheese — Absolute ground for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Meaning — Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 12, 13)
2.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character — Criteria — Perception of the trade mark by the relevant public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see para. 16)
3.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 18, 19, 21, 33)
4.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of a twisted cheese
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 23, 29, 32, 34)
5.
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 paras 40, 41)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 13 June 2019 (Case R 107/2019-4) relating to an application for registration of a three-dimensional sign consisting of the shape of a twisted cheese as an EU trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Muratbey Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ to pay the costs.