Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 15 December 2016 — Novartis v EUIPO (Representation of a grey curve and representation of a green curve)

(Joined Cases T‑678/15 and T‑679/15)

(EU trade mark — Applications for EU figurative trade marks representing a grey curve and representing a green curve — Absolute ground for refusal — Distinctive character — Simplicity of the sign — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 1. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 20, 21) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 22, 23) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark consisting of the two-dimensional representation of a product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 24) |

| 4. | 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 grey curve and figurative mark representing a green curve  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 27-30, 37, 40-42) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Recognition of the distinctiveness of the sign not subject to a finding of a certain level of creativity or linguistic or artistic imagination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 38, 39) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision — Limits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(3))  (see para. 45) |

Re:

Two actions brought against the decisions of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 September 2015 (Cases R 78/2015-5 and R 89/2015-5), concerning applications for registration of two figurative signs, representing a grey curve and representing a green curve, as EU trade marks.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decisions of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 23 September 2015 (Cases R 78/2015-5 and R 89/2015-5); |

| 2. | Allows the appeals brought by Novartis AG before that Board of Appeal; |

| 3. | Orders EUIPO to pay the costs. |

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