Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 5 July 2016 — Bundesverband Souvenir — Geschenke — Ehrenpreise v EUIPO — Freistaat Bayern (NEUSCHWANSTEIN)

(Case T‑167/15)

‛EU trade mark — Proceedings for a declaration of invalidity — EU word mark NEUSCHWANSTEIN — Absolute grounds for refusal — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — No distinctive character — Distinctive character — Article 52(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 — No bad faith’

1. 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 16)

2. 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 — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 17-19)

3. 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 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 20)

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 — Word mark NEUSCHWANSTEIN (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 22, 27, 31)

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 — Geographical names (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 25)

6. EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 36-39)

7. EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark NEUSCHWANSTEIN (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 45)

8. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application — Criteria for assessment — Taking into account of all relevant factors at the time of filing the application for registration — Applicant’s knowledge that a third party is using an identical or similar sign — Intention of the applicant — Degree of legal protection of the signs at issue — Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark — Chronology of events characterising the filing of the trade mark application (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b)) (see paras 50-53)

9. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application — Word mark NEUSCHWANSTEIN (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b)) (see paras 55-59)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 January 2015 (Case R 28/2014-5), relating to proceedings for a declaration of invalidity between Bundesverband Souvenir — Geschenke — Ehrenpreise and Freistaat Bayern.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;