Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 13 September 2023 –  
Ecoalf Recycled Fabrics v EUIPO (BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLANET B)

(Case T‑324/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0324_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(European Union trade mark – Application for the European Union word mark BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLANET B – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Equal treatment)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Pleas in law not set out in the application – General reference to other documents annexed to the application – Inadmissibility  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para. and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see paragraph 10) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraph 17) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character –Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 29-32, 38) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraph 35) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 36, 37) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge – None – Dispute before the General Court – Submission of documents to demonstrate the accuracy of a well-known fact  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paragraphs 42, 43) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLANET B  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 45-49, 53, 54, 58, 60) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 50, 57, 65-67, 72) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 68, 70) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Ecoalf Recycled Fabrics, SL to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0324_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 284, 25.7.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:284:TOC).

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