Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 14 December 2022 –  
Devin v EUIPO – Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DEVIN)

(Case T‑526/20) (
[1](#t-ECR_62020TJ0526_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark DEVIN – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Geographical name – Not contrary to public policy – Mark not of such a nature as to mislead the public – Article 7(1)(c), (f) and (g) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c), (f) and (g) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) and Article 52(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(3) and Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Cross-claim)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraph 36) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Geographical names  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 37-41) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark DEVIN  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 44, 45, 53) |

| 4. | Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Correction of an error of reasoning during the proceedings before the Court – Not permissible  (Art. 296 TFEU)  (see paragraph 49) |

| 5. | 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, 62 and 95(1))  (see paragraphs 70, 71, 124) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 79, 142) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Trade marks which are contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality – Examination by reference to the perception of the sign by the relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(f) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 84-88) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks of such a nature as to deceive the public – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(g) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 110-112) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks of such a nature as to deceive the public – Word mark DEVIN  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(g) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 114-121) |

| 10. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3) and 52(2))  (see paragraphs 133-137, 150) |

| 11. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Word mark DEVIN  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and (c) and (3), as well as 52(2))  (see paragraphs 144, 146, 147, 157) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 28 May 2020 (Case R 2535/2019-1) in so far as it declared the EU trade mark number 9408865 to be invalid for all the goods covered other than the product ‘mineral water complying with the specifications of the [protected geographical indication] Devin Natural Mineral Water’ in Class 32; |

| 2. | Dismisses the cross-claim; |

| 3. | Orders, in respect of the main action, EUIPO to bear, in addition to its own costs, the costs incurred by Devin EAD; and orders Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bear its own costs; |

| 4. | Orders, in respect of the cross-claim, Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by Devin and by EUIPO. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62020TJ0526_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 339, 12.10.2020](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2020:339:TOC).

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