Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 11 October 2023 –  
Biogena v EUIPO (THE GOOD GUMS)

(Case T‑87/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0087_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark THE GOOD GUMS – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Direction issued to the Office – Not included  (Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(6))  (see paragraphs 13, 14) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria – Composite mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 21-26, 34, 37, 38) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept – Mark consisting of a word or neologism produced by a combination of elements  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 27) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark THE GOOD GUMS  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 29, 32, 33, 39-41, 44, 48, 49) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of whether a sign can be registered – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 43) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 45-47) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders each party to bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0087_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 121, 3.4.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:121:TOC).

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