Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 December 2018 –  
Dermatest v EUIPO (ORIGINAL excellent dermatest 5-star-guarantee.de CLINICALLY TESTED)

(Case T‑802/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU figurative mark ORIGINAL excellent dermatest 5-star-guarantee.de CLINICALLY TESTED — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — No distinctive character — Lack of distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it — Not included  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 15) |

| 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability — Scope of the examination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 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 — Meaning — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 21-23, 36) |

| 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 the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 43) |

| 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 paras 57, 58) |

| 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 — Figurative mark ORIGINAL excellent dermatest 5-star-guarantee.de CLINICALLY TESTED  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 59, 66) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 65) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Exception — Distinctive character acquired through use — Probative value of the evidence  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see paras 71, 73, 74) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 25 September 2017 (Case R 525/2017-4), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign ORIGINAL excellent dermatest 3-star-guarantee.de CLINICALLY TESTED as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Dermatest Gesellschaft für allergologische Forschung u. Vertrieb von Köperpflegemitteln mbH to pay the costs. |

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