Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 30 June 2021 –  
Ceramica Flaminia v EUIPO – Ceramica Cielo (goclean)

(Case T‑290/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark goclean – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 52(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 52(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 59(2) of Regulation 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 para. 18) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 52(1)(a) and 7(1)(b))  (see paras 26-28, 45) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 52(1)(a) and 7(1)(b))  (see paras 29-32) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark goclean  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 52(1)(a) and 7(1)(b))  (see paras 37-44, 46) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – 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, Art. 52(1)(a))  (see para. 50) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paras 55, 56) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 52(2) and 7(3))  (see para. 64) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account the market share held by the mark – Whether permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 52(2) and 7(3))  (see paras 65-68) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 March 2020 (Case R 991/2018-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Ceramica Cielo and Ceramica Flaminia.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Ceramica Flaminia SpA to pay the costs. |

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