Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 3 September 2020 – achtung! v EUIPO

(Case C‑214/19 P) (
[1](#t-ECR_62019CJ0214_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(Appeal – EU trade mark – Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 – Article 7(1)(b) – Distinctive character – None)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark achtung!  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 29, 30) |

| 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 – Sign capable of bearing multiple meanings – Refusal to register where descriptiveness of at least one of the potential meanings exists – Inapplicable in assessing distinctive character  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 35, 36) |

| 3. | Appeal – Grounds – Plea against a ground of the judgment not necessary to support the operative part – Plea in law ineffective  (see para. 39) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products 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)(b) and 75, first sentence)  (see para. 41) |

| 5. | Appeal – Grounds – Inadequate statement of reasons – Reliance by the General Court on implied reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (see para. 45) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the appeal; |

| 2. | Orders achtung! GmbH to pay, in addition to its own costs, the costs incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62019CJ0214_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 238, 15.7.2019](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2019:238:TOC).

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