Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 16 May 2017 —  
Marsh v EUIPO (LegalPro)

(Case T‑472/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark LegalPro — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptiveness — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 13) |

| 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 — Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 14, 15, 25, 26) |

| 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 — Concept — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 16) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark LegalPro  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 28, 39, 43) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Legality — Examination by the EU judicature — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 31) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 32) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 17 June 2016 (Case R 146/2016-4) concerning the application for registration of the word sign LegalPro as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Marsh GmbH to pay the costs. |

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