Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 15 June 2022 –  
F I S I v EUIPO – Verband der Deutschen Daunen- und Federnindustrie (ECODOWN)

(Case T‑338/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0338_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark ECODOWN – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) of Regulation No 40/94 (now Article 7(3) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | 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 – Definition  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 19, 20, 41) |

| 2. | 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 21, 28, 34) |

| 3. | 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 – Word mark ECODOWN  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 25, 31, 35, 38-42) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality  (Council Regulation No 40/94)  (see para. 32) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 46) |

| 6. | 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  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(3))  (see paras 52-56) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders F I S I Fibre sintetiche SpA to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0338_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 320, 9.8.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:320:TOC).

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