Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 11 October 2017 – Osho Lotus Commune v EUIPO – Osho International Foundation (OSHO)

(Case T-670/15)

(EU trade mark — Proceedings for a declaration of invalidity — EU word mark OSHO — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of descriptive character — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — No adverse effect on public policy — Article 7(1)(f) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(f) 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–Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 25-27) |

| 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–Word mark OSHO  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 34-44, 51-91) |

| 3. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Absolute grounds for refusal–Overlapping of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 95) |

| 4. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Absolute grounds for refusal–Trade marks which are contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality–Examination by reference to the perception of the sign by the relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(f))  (see paras 102-105) |

| 5. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Absolute grounds for refusal–Trade marks which are contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality–Word mark OSHO  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(f))  (see paras 106-116) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 September 2015 (Case R 1997/2014-4), relating to proceedings for a declaration of invalidity between Osho Lotus Commune and Osho International Foundation.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Osho Lotus Commune eV to bear, in addition to its own costs, those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO); |

| 3. | Orders Osho International Foundation to bear its own costs. |

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