Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 21 February 2024 –  
Roethig López v EUIPO – William Grant & Sons Irish Brands (AMAZONIAN GIN COMPANY)

(Case T‑756/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0756_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark AMAZONIAN GIN COMPANY – Absolute ground for invalidity – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 21-23, 45) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 24, 25) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Geographical names  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 26-28) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark AMAZONIAN GIN COMPANY  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 37, 39-43) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment –Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 48) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Eric Roethig López to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0756_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 24, 23.1.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:024:TOC).

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