Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 18 October 2023 –  
Sports Group Denmark v EUIPO (ENDURANCE)

(Case T‑566/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0566_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark ENDURANCE – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Legal certainty – Equal treatment)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Pleas in law not set out in the application – General reference to other documents – Inadmissibility  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see paragraphs 13, 14) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Concept of distinctiveness  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraph 19) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 20, 21, 28) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 22, 23) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 24-27) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Figurative mark ENDURANCE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 41-43, 45, 55, 56) |

| 7. | Judicial proceedings – Submission of evidence – Time limit – Evidence lodged out of time – Conditions – Decision-making practice of EUIPO which postdates the proceedings – Whether permissible  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 85)  (see paragraph 73) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 74-77) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Sports Group Denmark A/S to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0566_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 424, 7.11.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:424:TOC).

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