62018TJ0686_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 3 October 2019 –LegalCareers v EUIPO (LEGALCAREERS)
(Case T‑686/18)
(EU trade mark — Application for the EU figurative mark LEGALCAREERS — Absolute grounds for refusal — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001 — Obligation to state reasons)
1.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods — Meaning
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 28)
2.
EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion — Registration of a new trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Burden of proof
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))
(see para. 31)
3.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Application for registration of a sign for all the goods or services falling within the same category — Lack of distinctive character in relation only to certain products falling within that category not precluding recognition of lack of distinctiveness of the sign in relation to products in that category as a whole
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 34)
4.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Figurative mark LEGALCAREERS
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paras 36, 46, 53)
5.
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 42)
6.
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, second para. TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see para. 57)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 17 September 2018 (Case R 234/2018-4), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign LEGALCAREERS as an EU trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders LegalCareers GmbH to pay the costs.