Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 17 October 2018 –  
Weber-Stephen Products v EUIPO (iGrill)

(Case T‑822/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark iGrill — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 17) |

| 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 paras 18-20) |

| 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 — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 21) |

| 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 — Assessment of registrability by the Office — Production of evidence — Not required  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 30) |

| 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. 45) |

| 6. | 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 iGrill  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 46, 47, 52) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 27 September 2017 (Case R 579/2017-2), relating to an application for registration of the word sign iGrill as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Weber-Stephen Products LLC to pay the costs. |

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