Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 30 January 2025 –  
Münchner Wohnen v EUIPO – (Münchner Wohnen)

(Case T‑85/24)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark Münchner Wohnen – Absolute ground for refusal – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Duty to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU, second para.; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraph 16) |

| 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 paragraphs 26, 27) |

| 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 28, 29, 41) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character of a sign – Circumstance necessarily implying absence of distinctive character of the sign  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paragraph 30) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Word mark Münchner Wohnen  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 39, 40, 42-44, 48) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good 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 paragraph 47) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 50) |

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed. |

| 2. | Each party shall bear its own costs. |

[Top](#document1)