Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 9 November 2016 —  
Smarter Travel Media v EUIPO (SMARTER TRAVEL)

(Case T‑290/15)

(EU trade mark — Application for the figurative EU trade mark SMARTER TRAVEL — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Equal treatment)

| 1. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service—Aim—Need to preserve availability—Scope of the examination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 44, 47) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service—Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(c))  (see paras 24, 25) |

| 3. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service—Figurative mark SMARTER TRAVEL  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(c))  (see paras 27, 28, 39, 42, 46) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Concept—Criteria for assessment—Recognition of the distinctiveness of the sign not subject to a finding of a certain level of creativity or linguistic or artistic imagination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(b))  (see paras 52-55) |

| 5. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Composite mark—Taking into account the overall perception of the mark by the relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(b))  (see para. 56) |

| 6. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Figurative mark SMARTER TRAVEL  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(b))  (see paras 57, 59, 60) |

| 7. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Overlap of the grounds under (b) and (c) of Article 7(1) Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 58) |

| 8. | 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 paras 66-71) |

| 9. | 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  (Art 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art 75, first sentence)  (see paras 75-77) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 20 March 2015 (Case R 1986/2014-2), relating to an application for registration of the figurative sign SMARTER TRAVEL as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Smarter Travel Media LLC to pay the costs. |

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