Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 26 October 2022 –  
Lemken v EUIPO (Shade of sky blue)

(Case T‑621/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0621_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for an EU trade mark consisting of a shade of sky blue – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 16, 17) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 22, 23, 29) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Signs of which a trade mark may consist – Colours or combinations of colours – Condition – Distinctive character  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 4 and 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 24-28, 30) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 38, 39) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks constituted by a colour or combination of colours – Mark consisting of a shade of sky blue  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 43, 48-51, 60, 61, 67, 68, 102) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(3))  (see paragraphs 78, 79, 98) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the Union – Acquisition through use also throughout the Union  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(3))  (see paragraphs 80-82) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Probative value of the evidence – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(3))  (see paragraphs 83-85) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Lemken GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0621_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 462, 15.11.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:462:TOC).

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