Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 17 November 2021 –  
Jakober v EUIPO (Shape of a cup)

(Case T‑658/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for a three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of a cup – Absolute ground for refusal – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(3) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 14, 15, 19, 20, 32, 37) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional mark comprising the shape of a cup  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 31, 35, 36, 40, 43) |

| 3. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 41) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see para. 45) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see paras 46-49) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 20 August 2020 (Case R 554/2020-5), concerning an application for registration of a three-dimensional sign comprising the shape of a cup as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Philip Jakober to pay the costs. |

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