Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 30 November 2022 –  
Lila Rossa Lila Engros v EUIPO (LiLAC)

(Case T‑780/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0780_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark LiLAC – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – 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 – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 20-22, 24-26) |

| 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 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 – Figurative mark LiLAC  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 54, 57) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Application for registration of a sign for all the goods or services falling within the same category – Assessment of the descriptiveness of the sign concerning all the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 50) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard 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, Arts 7(1) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraph 53) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 55, 56) |

| 7. | 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 strict and complete examination in each particular case  (see paragraphs 58, 59) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Lila Rossa Engros SRL to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0780_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 95, 28.2.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:095:TOC).

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