Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 6 December 2023 –  
DGC Switzerland v EUIPO (cyberscan)

(Case T‑85/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0085_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark cyberscan – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Sufficiently direct and specific relationship with the goods and services covered by the trade mark application – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 13-15, 25, 28, 29, 44) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment by EUIPO of registrability – Production of evidence – Not required  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 30) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark cyberscan  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 31, 42, 43, 46, 49, 51, 55, 57) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 58-60) |

| 5. | 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 62) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders each party to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0085_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 127, 11.4.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:127:TOC).

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