Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 30 June 2021 –  
MCM Products v EUIPO – The Nomad Company (NOMAD)

(Case T‑285/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – European Union word mark NOMAD – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Meaning  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 19, 21, 22) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 20) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 73) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (Council Regulation No 40/94)  (see para. 30) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 101-103) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark NOMAD  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 65, 66, 74, 90, 116, 120) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 13 March 2020 (Case R 854/2019-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between MCM Products and The Nomad Company.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders MCM Products AG to pay the costs. |

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