Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 19 June 2019 –  
Brita v EUIPO (Shape of a faucet)

(Case T‑213/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for a three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a faucet — Absolute ground for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 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. 15) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Meaning  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 20, 21) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 22-25) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment — Shape at issue a variation of the usual shape of the type of product in question — Fact not sufficient to establish distinctiveness of the mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 26) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), 1st sentence)  (see para. 32) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1) and 94(1), 1st sentence)  (see paras 33-37) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of a faucet  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 50, 55, 61-65) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 January 2018 (Case R 1864/2017-4), relating to an application for registration of a three-dimensional sign consisting of the shape of a faucet as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Brita GmbH to pay the costs. |

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