Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 2 June 2021 –  
Franz Schröder v EUIPO – RDS Design (MONTANA)

(Case T‑856/19)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark MONTANA – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptiveness – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Right to be heard – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motion – Admission of evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Article 95(1) and (2) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in time – Account taken – Power of assessment of EUIPO  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2))  (see paras 24-26) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7, 59, 62 and 95(1))  (see paras 38-41, 48, 49) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeals before the Boards of Appeal – Competence of the Boards of Appeal – New full examination of the merits – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 71(1) and 95(1))  (see paras 42, 45, 50, 56) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)  (see paras 63, 65) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 72) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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 – Geographical names  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 81-85, 94) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark MONTANA  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 87, 91-93, 97-101, 104, 105) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 October 2019 (Case R 2394/2018-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Franz Schröder and RDS Design.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Franz Schröder GmbH & Co. KG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO); |

| 3. | Orders RDS Design ApS to bear its own costs. |

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