Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 31 March 2023 –  
Thomas Henry v EUIPO (MATE MATE)

(Case T‑482/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TO0482_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark MATE MATE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Lack of distinctive character – Misleading character – Article 7(1)(b),(c) and (g) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 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 – Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 14) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 15) |

| 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 – Sign capable of bearing multiple meanings – Refusal to register where descriptiveness of at least one of the potential meanings exists  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 21) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 24) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 27) |

| 6. | 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 MATE MATE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 29, 30, 43, 45-47) |

| 7. | 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 51) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks of such a nature as to deceive the public – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(g))  (see paragraphs 56-58, 64) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks of such a nature as to deceive the public – Word mark MATE MATE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(g))  (see paragraphs 61-63) |

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed. |

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

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TO0482_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 359, 19.9.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:359:TOC).

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