Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 24 May 2023 –  
Glaxo Group v EUIPO – Cipla Europe (Shape of an inhaler)

(Case T‑477/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0477_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of an inhaler – Absolute ground for invalidity – Distinctive character acquired through use – Article 51(2) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 59(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Scope – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the Union – Acquisition through use also throughout the Union  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3) and 59(2))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 2. | 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 – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 71(1) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 36, 61) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade mark consisting in the shape of an inhaler in specific colours  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 26-28, 39, 44-46, 50, 63-64, 67-71) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Composite mark – Taking into account the overall perception of the mark by the relevant public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(2))  (see paragraph 38) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 19 May 2021 (Case R 1835/2016-1); |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to pay the costs, including those incurred for the purposes of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0477_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 382, 20.9.2021.](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:382:TOC)

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