Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 3 May 2018 –  
Raise Council v EUIPO — Raizers (RAISE)

(Case T‑463/17)

(European Union trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark RAISE — Absolute ground for refusal — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(3) of Regulation 2017/1001) — Article 52(1) and (2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1) and(2) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark—Appeals procedure—Boards of Appeal—Classification as administration of the Office—Right of the parties to a fair process—None  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 61 to 64)  (see para. 22) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Procedural provisions—Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion—Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal—Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7, 52, 55 and 76(1))  (see paras 24-28) |

| 3. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Meaning—Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 35, 36) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Assessment of distinctive character—Criteria—Perception of the trade mark by the relevant public—Attention level of the public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 37, 39) |

| 5. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Signs of which a trade mark may consist—Signs used elsewhere as advertising slogans, indications of quality or expressions encouraging purchases of the goods or services covered—Condition—Distinctive character  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 38) |

| 6. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Word mark RAISE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 44-51, 53-63, 68-70) |

| 7. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration—Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register—Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 75, first sentence)  (see paras 65-67) |

| 8. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Exception—Distinctive character acquired through use—Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) to (d) and (3))  (see paras 73-77) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 24 May 2017 (Case R 1606/2016-5), relating to invalidity proceedings between Raizers and Raise Conseil.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Raise Conseil to pay the costs. |

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