Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 29 March 2019 —

All Star v EUIPO — Carrefour Hypermarchés (Shape of a shoe sole)

(Case T‑611/17)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a shoe sole — Well-known facts — Obligation to state reasons — Rights of the defence — Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 94(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001) — Distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(3) and Article 52(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(3) and Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001) — Rejection of the request to hold a hearing before the Board of Appeal — Article 77 of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 96(1) of Regulation 2017/1001))

1. EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion — Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal — Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties — Well-known facts taken into account (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), 52, 55 and 76(1)) (see paras 43-46, 51, 54, 134)

2. EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Decisions of EUIPO — Observance of the rights of the defence — Scope of the principle (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, second sentence) (see paras 72, 73)

3. EU trade mark — Proceedings before the EUIPO authorities — Obligation of EUIPO, including the Boards of Appeal, to adopt decisions within a reasonable time (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1); Council Regulation No 207/2009) (see paras 89-92)

4. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 106-109)

5. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Three-dimensional mark — Shape of a shoe sole (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 120, 129)

6. EU trade mark — Decisions of EUIPO — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO's previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case (Council Regulation No 207/2009) (see para. 125)

7. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Exception — Distinctive character acquired through use — Probative value of the evidence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3), 52(2) and 76) (see paras 142, 143, 152, 160-162)

8. EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Recourse to the oral procedure — Discretion of EUIPO (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 77(1)) (see para. 177)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 27 June 2017 (Case R 952/2014-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Carrefour Hypermarchés and All Star.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;