Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 24 February 2021 –  
Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional v EUIPO (El Clasico)

(Case T‑809/19)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark El Clasico – Absolute grounds for refusal – Lack of distinctive character – Descriptive character – Lack of 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 – Definition  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 29, 31, 32, 40, 41, 70) |

| 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 30) |

| 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 33, 39, 51, 53, 61) |

| 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 goods – Figurative mark El Clasico  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 46, 55, 59, 60, 64, 74, 79, 103, 104) |

| 5. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 73) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Refusal of registration based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Whether sufficient  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1))  (see para. 78) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Mark devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the EU – Acquisition of that character in part of the Union – Insufficient  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) to (d) and (3))  (see paras 83-86, 89) |

| 8. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see paras 87, 88, 94, 97, 98) |

| 9. | 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 – Use before the date of filing the application for registration  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see para. 99) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 1 October 2019 (Case R 1966/2018-2), concerning the international registration designating the European Union in respect of the figurative mark El Clasico.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional to pay the costs. |

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