Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 20 October 2021 –  
Square v EUIPO ($ Cash App)

(Case T‑211/20)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark $ Cash App – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Right to be heard – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 18, 44, 53) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 2017/1001  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 19, 20) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal – Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) to (d))  (see para. 21) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark $ Cash App  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 26, 27, 67) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)  (see para. 34) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Trade mark made up of several elements – Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark – Need to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 57) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 February 2020 (Case R 810/2019-1), relating to the international registration designating the European Union in respect of the figurative mark $ Cash App.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Square, Inc. to bear its own costs and pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). |

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