Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 19 June 2024 –  
Coinbase v EUIPO (Representation of a broken circle)

(Case T-304/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0304_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark representing a broken circle – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | 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 paragraph 15) |

| 2. | 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 16, 18, 19) |

| 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 – Sign composed of a basic geometric figure  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 22, 24) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Recognition of the distinctive character of the sign not subject to a finding of a specific level of linguistic or artistic creativity or imaginativeness  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Figurative mark representing a broken circle  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 25-28) |

| 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 – Decisions of national authorities not binding on EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 40) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (see paragraphs 42, 43) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Coinbase, Inc., to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0304_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 252, 17.7.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:252:TOC).

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