Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 28 April 2021 –  
Freistaat Bayern v EUIPO (GEWÜRZSOMMELIER)

(Case T‑348/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark GEWÜRZSOMMELIER – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Neologism)

| 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 – Concept – Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 19, 21, 29, 39, 62) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 20) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 22) |

| 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 – Word mark GEWÜRZSOMMELIER  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 35-37, 46-49, 58-60, 72-74) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity – Date of lodging the application for registration  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 68) |

| 6. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001)  (see paras 70, 71) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 March 2020 (Case R 2430/2019-2) concerning an application for registration of the word sign GEWÜRZSOMMELIER as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Freistaat Bayern to pay the costs. |

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