Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 11 December 2018 –  
Hamburg Beer Company v EUIPO (Hamburg Beer Company)

(Case T‑6/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark Hamburg Beer Company — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Meaning — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 16-19) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark Hamburg Beer Company  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 23, 25-28, 43, 51) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Trade mark made up of several elements — Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark — Scope of protection of the mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 31) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Legality — Examination by the EU judicature — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 49) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 50) |

| 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. 53) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 29 September 2017 (Case R 437/2017-5) concerning an application for registration of the word sign Hamburg Beer Company as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed as manifestly lacking any foundation in law. |

| 2. | Hamburg Beer Company GmbH shall pay the costs. |

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