Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 26 September 2017 — La Rocca v EUIPO (Take your time Pay After)

(Case T‑755/16)

(European Union trade mark — Application for figurative EU trade mark Take your time Pay After — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Obligation to state reasons — First sentence of Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 12-15) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Assessment of distinctive character—Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 16, 19, 25) |

| 3. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Marks constituted of advertising slogans—Distinctive character—Application of specific criteria for assessment—Not permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 17, 18) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Figurative mark Take your time Pay After  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 21, 23, 26-32) |

| 5. | EU trade mark—Procedural provisions—Statement of reasons for decisions—Aim  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)  (see para. 37) |

| 6. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration—Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register—Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), and 75, first sentence)  (see para. 39-41) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 August 2016 (Case R 406/2016-1) concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign Take your time Pay After as EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Alessandro La Rocca to pay the costs. |

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