Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 21 November 2018 –  
Bopp v EUIPO (Representation of an equilateral octagon)

(Case T‑460/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for an EU figurative mark representing a blue octagonal frame — Absolute ground for refusal — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and Article 94 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark representing a blue octagonal frame  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 51-53, 63, 64, 66) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)  (see paras 54-56) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion — Registration of a new trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 76(1))  (see para. 60) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Decisions of EUIPO — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 65) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Assessment of the registrability of a sign — EU rules only taken into account — Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 69) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 May 2017 (Case R 1954/2016-4) concerning an application for registration of a figurative sign representing a blue octagonal frame as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Carsten Bopp to pay the costs. |

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