Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 25 September 2018 –  
EM Research Organization v EUIPO — Christoph Fischer and Others (EM)

(Case T‑180/17)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark ‘EM’ — 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) — Evidence produced for the first time before the General Court)

| 1. | EU trade mark—Appeals procedure—Action before the EU judicature—Jurisdiction of the General Court—Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal—Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies—Not included  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 20) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 29) |

| 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—Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 30, 31) |

| 4. | 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—Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 32, 81, 84) |

| 5. | 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—Word mark EM  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 44, 55-59, 73, 75, 85, 87) |

| 6. | EU trade mark—Surrender, revocation and invalidity—Invalidity proceedings—Admissibility—Misuse of rights—Irrelevant  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 37(1) and 56(1)(a))  (see paras 54, 67-69) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 January 2017 (Case R 2442/2015-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Christoph Fischer, Ole Weinkath, Multikraft Produktions- und Handel and Phytodor, on one hand, and, on the other, EM Research Organization.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders EM Research Organization, Inc. to pay the costs. |

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