Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 20 November 2018 –  
St Andrews Links v EUIPO (ST ANDREWS)

(Case T‑790/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark ST ANDREWS — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Geographical origin — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Geographical names  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 21-26, 32, 33, 57) |

| 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 — Word mark ST ANDREWS  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 38, 41, 44, 49, 58) |

| 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 40) |

| 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 — Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 42, 52, 53) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 October 2017 (Case R 92/2017-4), relating to an application for registration of the word sign ST ANDREWS as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders St. Andrews Links Ltd to pay the costs. |

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