Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 14 September 2022 –  
Lotion v EUIPO (BLACK IRISH)

(Case T‑498/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0498_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark BLACK IRISH – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Descriptiveness – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Equal treatment – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 15) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 16, 17, 21, 30, 32) |

| 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 – Word mark BLACK IRISH  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 26, 33, 34, 36, 49, 58) |

| 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 – Concept of characteristic  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 43) |

| 5. | 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 – Essential procedural requirement  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 62-64) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 71) |

| 7. | 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 strict and complete examination in each particular case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 73-76) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Lotion LLC to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0498_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 391, 27.9.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:391:TOC).

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