Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 21 June 2017 —  
Rare Hospitality International v EUIPO (LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE)

(Case T‑856/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Equal treatment and the principle of sound administration)

| 1. | 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 paras 22, 45) |

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 24, 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 — Concept — Neologism consisting of elements descriptive of characteristics of the goods or services concerned — Whether included where the nature of the combination is not unusual  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 25) |

| 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 — Word mark LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 31-33, 40-43) |

| 5. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paras 52-57) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 September 2016 (Case R 2149/2015-5) concerning an application for registration of word sign LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Rare Hospitality International, Inc. to pay the costs. |

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