Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 23 April 2018 — Genomic Health v EUIPO (ONCOTYPE DX GENOMIC PROSTATE SCORE)

(Case T‑354/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark ONCOTYPE DX GENOMIC PROSTATE SCORE — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptiveness — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Equal treatment)

| 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—Scope of the examination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 23) |

| 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—Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 24) |

| 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 25, 29) |

| 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 ONCOTYPE DX GENOMIC PROSTATE SCORE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 27, 32-39) |

| 5. | 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 paras 28, 30, 31) |

| 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. 42) |

| 7. | EU trade mark—Decisions of the Office—Legality—Examination by the EU judicature  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 46) |

| 8. | 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 paras 47-49) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 February 2017 (Case R 1682/2016-5), concerning an application for registration of the word sign ONCOTYPE DX GENOMIC PROSTATE SCORE as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Genomic Health, Inc., to pay the costs. |

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