Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 30 November 2017 – Hanso Holding v EUIPO (REAL)

(Case T-798/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU figurative mark REAL — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — No distinctive character — No distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 [now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001])

| 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–Aim–Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 13) |

| 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–Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 14, 15, 30, 34) |

| 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–Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign–Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 16, 17) |

| 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–Figurative mark REAL  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 27, 47) |

| 5. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Absolute grounds for refusal–Marks devoid of any distinctive character–Exception–Distinctive character acquired through use–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see paras 38, 39, 42-45, 49, 50) |

| 6. | EU trade mark–Decisions of the Office–Legality–Examination by the EU judicature–Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 58) |

| 7. | EU trade mark–Decisions of the Office–Principle of equal treatment–Principle of sound administration–EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paras 60-62) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 September 2016 (Case R 2405/2015-2), relating to the application for registration of the figurative sign REAL as a European Union trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Hanso Holding AS to pay the costs. |

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