Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 13 November 2024 –  
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma v EUIPO – Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Europe (Shape of inhaler)

(Case T‑524/23)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of an inhaler – Absolute ground for invalidity – Sign which consists exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Article 7(1)(e)(ii) and Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(e)(ii) and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Interpretation in the light of the public interest underlying the ground for invalidity  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 15-17, 20) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Identification of the essential characteristics of a sign  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 18, 30) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Assessment of the essential characteristics in the light of the technical function of the goods  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 19, 23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Existence of other shapes allowing the same technical result to be obtained – Not relevant for the ground for invalidity  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 21, 48, 55) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Presence of non-essential characteristics with no technical function – Not relevant for the ground for invalidity  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraph 22) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Three-dimensional trade mark consisting of the shape of an inhaler  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 34, 47, 49, 54) |

| 7. | 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  (Art. 296, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 59, 60) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

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