Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 16 April 2018 —  
Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen v EUIPO (shape of a petrol station)

(Cases T‑339/15 to T‑343/15)

(European Union trade mark — Application for EU three-dimensional marks — Shape of a petrol station — Absolute ground for refusal — Distinctiveness — Article 65(4) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 72(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Acts having fully upheld the applicant’s claims — Binding nature of the grounds of an order for reference — Admissibility — Obligation to state reasons)

| 1. | EU trade mark—Appeals procedure—Persons entitled to appeal and to be parties to the proceedings—Persons whose claims not upheld by a decision—Decision upholding an opposition to registration of a trade mark, based on the existence of the likelihood of confusion with an earlier mark, without recognising the latter as having enhanced distinctiveness—No interest in bringing proceedings—Inadmissibility  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(4))  (see paras 29, 30) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Appeals procedure—Persons entitled to appeal and to be parties to the proceedings—Persons whose claims not upheld by a decision—Decision referring the case back to the lower department for further prosecution  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 64(2) and 65(4))  (see para. 32) |

| 3. | EU trade mark—Procedural provisions—Statement of reasons for decisions—Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009—Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU—Essential formality  (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)  (see para. 33) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Decisions of the Office—Principle of equal treatment—Principle of sound administration—EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice—Principle of legality—Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 34) |

| 5. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 75, first sentence)  (see paras 35-39) |

Re:

Five actions brought against the decisions of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 April 2015 (Cases R 2245/2014-5, R 2247/2014-5, R 2248/2014-5, R 2249/2014-5 and R 2250/2014-5) concerning applications for registration of three-dimensional signs formed by the shape of a petrol station as EU trade marks.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Orders the joinder of Cases T 339/15 to T 343/15 for the purposes of the judgment; |

| 2. | Dismisses the actions as inadmissible in respect of the goods and services which do not form part of the usual range of petrol stations (aviation fuel, petroleum coke, xylenes and wholesale fuel); |

| 3. | Annuls the decisions of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office of 2 April 2015 (Cases R 2245/2014-5, R 2247/2014-5, R 2248/2014-5, R 2249/2014-5 and R 2250/2014-5) in respect of the goods and services other than those which do not form part of the usual range of petrol stations (aviation fuel, petroleum coke, xylenes and wholesale fuel) and which are covered by the marks applied for; |

| 4. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay four fifths of the costs incurred by Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen SA, which shall bear one fifth of its own costs. |

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