Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 3 December 2019 –  
Hästens Sängar v EUIPO (Representation of a chequered gingham pattern)

(Case T‑658/18)

(EU trade mark — International registration designating the European Union — Figurative mark representing a chequered gingham pattern — Absolute grounds for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 14) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 15, 16) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Recognition of the distinctiveness of the sign not subject to a finding of a certain level of creativity or linguistic or artistic imagination — Mark fulfilling a decorative or ornamental function — Irrelevant  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 17, 18) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Three-dimensional mark constituted by the shape of the product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 19-22) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Figurative mark consisting of the two-dimensional representation of a product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 23, 24) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Figurative mark representing a chequered gingham pattern  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 29, 33, 34, 36, 39, 42-45, 47, 51, 52) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation No 2017/1001 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 55) |

| 8. | 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, Art. 94(1))  (see paras 56-61) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 August 2018 (Case R 442/2018-2) concerning the international registration designating the European Union of a figurative mark representing a chequered gingham pattern.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Hästens Sängar AB to pay the costs. |

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