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

Power Horse Energy Drinks v EUIPO – Robot Energy Europe (UNSTOPPABLE)

(Case T‑3/21)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark UNSTOPPABLE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001))

1. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 18-20)

2. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 21, 22)

3. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Laudatory promotional formula (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a)) (see para. 23)

4. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a)) (see para. 24)

5. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark UNSTOPPABLE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 27, 28, 36, 42, 44)

6. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 50, 61)

7. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a)) (see para. 51)

8. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark UNSTOPPABLE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 57, 58, 64, 65)

9. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 62, 63)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 October 2020 (Case R 232/2020-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Power Horse Energy Drinks and Robot Energy Europe.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;