Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 27 January 2021 –  
Eggy Food v EUIPO (EGGY FOOD)

(Case T‑287/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark EGGY FOOD – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptiveness – 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 – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))  (see para. 27) |

| 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 para. 30) |

| 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 – Definition  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 31, 32, 43) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria – Composite mark – Taking into account the overall perception of the mark by the relevant public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 33-35) |

| 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 – Figurative mark EGGY FOOD  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 37, 44, 53, 54) |

| 6. | 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 No 2017/1001)  (see para. 52) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001)  (see para. 57) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001)  (see para. 58) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Refusal to register based on one of the absolute grounds of refusal listed in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Whether sufficient  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))  (see para. 64) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 March 2020 (Case R 1316/2019-5) concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign EGGY FOOD as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

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

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