Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 25 June 2020 –  
Serviceplan Gruppe für innovative Kommunikation v EUIPO (Serviceplan)

(Case T‑379/19)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark Serviceplan – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark Serviceplan  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 26, 45-57) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 41-43) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctiveness- Criteria  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 44, 50) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Aim  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 67) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Arts 7(1)(b) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paras 68, 71) |

| 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  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council)  (see paras 81, 83, 84) |

Re

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 March 2019 (Case R 1424/2018-5) concerning an application for registration of the word sign Serviceplan as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Serviceplan Gruppe für innovative Kommunikation GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

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