Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 13 May 2020 –  
EC Brand Comércio, Importação e Exportação de Vestuário em Geral v EUIPO (pantys)

(Case T‑532/19)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU figurative mark pantys — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — No distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(3) 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 13-15, 18, 24, 28) |

| 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 — Figurative mark pantys  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 17, 19-21, 31, 35, 40, 41) |

| 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 registrability by the Office — Production of evidence — Not required  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Assessment of the registrability of a sign — EU rules only taken into account — Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 33) |

| 5. | 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 paras 49-54) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 May 2019 (Case R 314/2019-5), relating to an application for registration of the figurative mark pantys as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders EC Brand Comércio, Importação e Exportação de Vestuário em Geral Ltda to pay the costs. |

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