Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 5 November 2019 –  
APEDA v EUIPO — Burraq Travel & Tours General Tourism Office (SIR BASMATI RICE)

(Case T‑361/18)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU figurative mark SIR BASMATI RICE — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(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 — Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paras 17, 18) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 28, 29, 37) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 30, 36, 54) |

| 5. | 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 — Geographical names  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 31-34) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Figurative mark SIR BASMATI RICE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 47, 53, 61, 66, 69, 70) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 March 2018 (Case R 90/2017-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between APEDA and Burraq Travel & Tours General Tourism Office.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls point 3 of the operative part of the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 22 March 2018 (Case R 90/2017-2), in relation to invalidity proceedings between Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Burraq Travel & Tours General Tourism Office SA, in so far as it upholds the dismissal of the application for a declaration of invalidity of EU figurative mark SIR BASMATI RICE in respect of the goods in Classes 30, 31 and 33 of the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended, other than for ‘sago’ and ‘artificial rice [uncooked]’ in Class 30; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |

| 3. | Orders EUIPO to pay the costs, including those incurred in the proceedings before the Board of Appeal. |

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