Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 12 June 2024 –  
Amstel Brouwerij v EUIPO – Anheuser-Busch (ULTRA)

(Case T‑170/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0170_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark ULTRA – Absolute ground for invalidity – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – EUIPO’s Guidelines for examination)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7, 59 and 95(1))  (see paragraphs 17-19) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Concept of distinctiveness  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 32, 33) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraph 34) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 36, 37) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 40/94 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for invalidity – Date of filing of the application for registration  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 39, 45) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Proceedings before the EUIPO authorities – Directives of the EUIPO – Scope  (see paragraph 41) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – ULTRA Figurative mark ULTRA  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 49, 50, 55, 57, 58) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 24 January 2023 (Case R 2088/2021-5); |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Amstel Brouwerij BV; |

| 3. | Orders Anheuser-Busch LLC to pay its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0170_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 179, 22.5.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:179:TOC).

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