Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 3 April 2017 —  
Cop v EUIPO — Conexa (AMPHIBIAN)

(Case T‑215/16)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — International registration designating the European Union — Figurative mark AMPHIBIAN — Absolute grounds for refusal — Distinctive character — Lack of descriptive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark—Appeals procedure—Action before the EU judicature—Condition of admissibility—Grounds of appeal directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(1))  (see para. 12) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Appeals procedure—Action before the EU judicature—Jurisdiction of the General Court—Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it—Precluded  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 18) |

| 3. | Community trade mark—Appeals procedure—Action before the EU judicature—Legality of the decision of a Board of Appeal—Account taken, for the purposes of applying EU law, of national legislation, case-law or academic writing—Lawfulness  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 21) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Prior registration of the trade mark in certain Member States—Effect  (see para. 22) |

| 5. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 33) |

| 6. | 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 34-37) |

| 7. | EU trade mark—Surrender, revocation and invalidity—Absolute grounds for invalidity—Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009—Figurative mark AMPHIBIAN  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 39-47, 55) |

| 8. | EU trade mark—Procedural provisions—Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion—Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal—Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), 52, 55 and 76(1))  (see paras 49-51) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 7 March 2016 (Case R 1984/2015-4) relating to invalidity proceedings between Cop and Conexa.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Cop Vertriebs-GmbH to pay the costs. |

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