Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 6 October 2021 –

M/S. Indeutsch International v EUIPO – 135 Kirkstall (Representation of chevrons between two parallel lines)

(Case T‑124/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark representing chevrons between two parallel lines – Absolute ground for refusal – Sign of which an EU trade mark may consist – Article 7(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Obligation to rule on the action – Article 71(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Cross-claim)

1. EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Alteration of a decision of the Office – Assessment in the light of the powers conferred on the Board of Appeal (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 64(5), 71(1) and 72(3)) (see para. 36)

2. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs of which a trade mark may consist – Graphic representation of a mark submitted as a figurative mark – Conditions for registration – Graphic representation that is sufficiently clear and precise (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 4) (see para. 43)

3. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 4, 7(1)(a) and (b) and 7(3)) (see paras 44-47, 72)

4. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs of which a trade mark may consist – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark representing chevrons between two parallel lines (European Parliament and Council Regulation, Art. 71(1); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 4, 7(1)(a) and (b), (3), and 52(2)) (see paras 65-72)

5. EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Scope – Limits (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1) to (3); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(a)) (see paras 73, 74)

6. EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(2) and (3); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(a)) (see para. 76)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Grand Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 13 December 2019 (Case R 2672/2017-G), relating to invalidity proceedings between Crafts Americana Group and M/S. Indeutsch International.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the Grand Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 13 December 2019 (Case R 2672/2017-G);

2. Declares that there is no need to adjudicate on the main action;

3. Orders M/S. Indeutsch International and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to pay, in addition to their own costs, those incurred by 135 Kirkstall, Inc., formerly Crafts Americana Group, Inc., in relation to the cross-claim and the proceedings before the Board of Appeal;