Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 14 July 2021 –  
Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management v EUIPO – Yiwu Dearbody Cosmetics (BODYSECRETS)

(Case T‑810/19)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark BODYSECRETS – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Descriptive character – Customary nature – Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (d), and Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (d), and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – The Office’s previous decision-making practice – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 32) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 36, 37, 60, 61) |

| 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 7(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 38-42) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark BODYSECRETS  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 63-65, 67) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), (2) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 73-75) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark BODYSECRETS  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 79, 83) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which have become customary in everyday language or commerce – Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(d) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 87, 90) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which have become customary in everyday language or commerce – Customary character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(d) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 88, 89) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 September 2019 (Case R 2422/2018-5) relating to invalidity proceedings between Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management and Yiwu Dearbody Cosmetics.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management, Inc. to pay the costs. |

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