Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 14 September 2022 –  
Task Food v EUIPO – Foodtastic (ENERGY CAKE)

(Case T‑686/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0686_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark ENERGY CAKE – Declaration of invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/2011))

| 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 21) |

| 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 – Definition – Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 22, 24, 26-29, 66, 67) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 23, 73, 74) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 75, first sentence)  (see paragraphs 33-38) |

| 5. | 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 ENERGY CAKE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 48, 61, 75, 76) |

| 6. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), 52(1)(a) and 76(1))  (see paragraph 54) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Authorises Task Food s.r.o. to replace energy cake GmbH as applicant; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action; |

| 3. | Orders Task Food to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0686_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 513, 20.12.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:513:TOC).

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