62022TJ0764_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 6 December 2023 – bet365Group v EUIPO (bet365)
(Case T-764/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark bet365 – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria – Composite mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 12-14, 20, 33, 46, 67-69)
2.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept – Mark consisting of a word or neologism produced by a combination of elements
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraph 29)
3.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 36, 48, 63-66, 70)
4.
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 paragraph 38)
5.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraphs 51, 52)
6.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1) and 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraph 60)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 19 September 2022 (Case R 622/2022-4) in so far as it concerns ‘printed matter and printed publications; magazines, manuals, newsletters, instructional and teaching material; calendars; tickets; printed cards’ in Class 16; ‘advertising; business management; business administration; office functions; on-line data processing services; economic forecasting; opinion polling; marketing research; modelling for advertising or sales promotion’ in Class 35; and ‘computer advisory, consultancy and design services, leasing, rental and hire of computer software, computer programming’ in Class 42;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders each party to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 35, 30.1.2023.