Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 2 December 2020 –  
BSH Hausgeräte v EUIPO (Home Connect)

(Case T‑152/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark Home Connect – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Sufficiently direct and specific relationship with the goods covered by the trade mark application – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability – Scope of the examination  (Regulation of the European Parliament and Council 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 13) |

| 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 – Definition  (Regulation of the European Parliament and Council 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 14, 15, 22) |

| 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  (Regulation of the European Parliament and Council 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 16) |

| 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 – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark Home Connect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 26, 28, 40, 41, 53, 61, 75, 86, 87) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1) and 94, first sentence)  (see paras 55, 56) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Definition – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 83, 84) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 10 January 2020 (Case R 1751/2019-5), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign Home Connect as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders BSH Hausgeräte GmbH to pay the costs. |

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