62021TJ0117_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 4 May 2022 –Deichmann v EUIPO – Munich (Representation of two crossed stripes placed on the side of a shoe)
(Case T‑117/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark representing a cross on the side of a sports shoe – Article 7(1)(b) and Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)
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 – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see para. 17)
2.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Plea based on absence or inadequacy of the statement of reasons – Plea alleging incorrectness of the statement of reasons – Distinction
(Art. 296 TFEU)
(see paras 18, 19)
3.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of the Office – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)
(see para. 34)
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 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 50-53)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria – Perception of the trade mark by the relevant public – Attention level of the public
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))
(see para. 54)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark representing a cross on the side of a sports shoe
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))
(see paras 60-65, 71)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Deichmann SE to pay the costs of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and of Munich, SL.
(
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)	OJ C 128, 12.4.2021.