Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 22 November 2017 – Toontrack Music v EUIPO (EZMIX)

(Case T-771/16)

(European Union trade mark — Application for EU word mark EZMIX — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Equal treatment and principle of sound administration)

| 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–Not included  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 19) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, 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–Meaning–Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 27-29, 38, 39, 46) |

| 4. | EU trade mark–Decisions of the Office–Principle of equal treatment–Principle of sound administration–EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice–Principle of legality–Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paras 48-52) |

| 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–Word mark EZMIX  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 63, 64, 73-78) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 27 July 2016 (Case R 2436/2015-5) concerning an application for registration of word mark EZMIX as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2 | Orders Toontrack Music AB to pay the costs. |

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