Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 2 June 2021 –  
Schneider v EUIPO – Raths (Teslaplatte)

(Case T‑183/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark Teslaplatte – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | 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, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 17, 18) |

| 2. | 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 – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 19, 40) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Relevant date for the examination of an application for a declaration of invalidity – Date on which the application for registration of the contested mark was filed  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 20) |

| 4. | 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 Teslaplatte  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 29, 39, 41, 42, 45, 49) |

| 5. | Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation 207/2009)  (see para. 51) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 15 January 2020 (Case R 247/2019-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Mr Raths and Mr Schneider.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Christian Schneider to pay the costs. |

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