Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 19 May 2021 –  
Steinel v EUIPO (GluePro)

(Case T‑256/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark GluePro – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 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 – Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 14-16) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 18, 20, 24, 28, 29) |

| 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 – Word mark GluePro  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 25, 27, 30, 33, 36, 55) |

| 4. | 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 – Trade mark made up of several elements – Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark – Need to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 26, 32) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Sign without descriptive character – Fact not necessarily implying the distinctive character of the sign  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 34, 35) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1); Art. 94(1), first subpara.)  (see paras 38-45) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Application for registration of a sign in respect of all goods falling within a single category – Assessment of the descriptiveness of the sign concerning all the goods  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 48) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 53) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 59) |

| 10. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 62, 63) |

| 11. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark GluePro  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 64-66) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 February 2020 (Case R 2516/2019-2), relating to an application for registration of the word sign GluePro as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Steinel GmbH to pay the costs. |

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