Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 23 September 2020 – Aldi v EUIPO (BBQ BARBECUE SEASON)

(Case T‑522/19)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU figurative mark BBQ BARBECUE SEASON – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptiveness – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | European Union trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the European Union trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 13) |

| 2. | European Union trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the European Union 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 para. 14) |

| 3. | European Union trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the European Union 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 paras 15, 16, 20) |

| 4. | European Union trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the European Union trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 17) |

| 5. | European Union 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 BBQ BARBECUE SEASON  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 29, 36) |

| 6. | European Union trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the European Union trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 41-44) |

| 7. | European Union trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the European Union trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark BBQ BARBECUE SEASON  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 46-48) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 17 May 2019 (Case R 1359/2018-5), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign BBQ BARBECUE SEASON as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Aldi GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

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