Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 9 February 2017 — Bodegas Vega Sicilia v EUIPO (TEMPOS VEGA SICILIA)

(Case T‑696/15)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark TEMPOS VEGA SICILIA — Absolute ground for refusal — Trade mark for wine with geographical indications — Article 7(1)(j) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks for wines or spirits containing or consisting of geographical indications identifying wines or spirits not having that origin — Conditions  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(j))  (see para. 20) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Modification of the terms of the dispute as brought before the Board of Appeal — Not permissible  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 28) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision — Limits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(3))  (see para. 29) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks for wines or spirits containing or consisting of geographical indications identifying wines or spirits not having that origin — Deceptive nature — Likelihood of confusion — Irrelevant  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(j))  (see para. 43) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks for wines or spirits containing or consisting of geographical indications identifying wines or spirits not having that origin — Word mark TEMPOS VEGA SICILIA  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(j))  (see paras 59-62) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — 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  (see paras 63-65) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 30 September 2015 (Case R 285/2015-4) concerning an application for registration of the word sign TEMPOS VEGA SICILIA as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Bodegas Vega Sicilia, SA to pay the costs. |

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