Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 13 February 2019 –  
Nemius Group v EUIPO (DENTALDISK)

(Case T‑278/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark DENTALDISK — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings — Application initiating proceedings — Formal requirements — Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based — General reference to other documents not annexed to the application — Inadmissibility  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see para. 25) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal to a Board of Appeal — Competence of the Boards of Appeal — New full examination of the merits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 71(1))  (see para. 29) |

| 3. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7 and 95(1))  (see para. 30) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Relevant date for examining an absolute ground for refusal — Date of lodging the application for registration  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))  (see para. 33) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 38) |

| 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 — Meaning  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 39, 40, 71) |

| 7. | 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 para. 41) |

| 8. | 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 DENTALDISK  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 43, 49-54, 62, 65-67, 69, 75) |

| 9. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Application for registration of a sign for all the goods or services falling within the same category — Assessment of the descriptiveness of the sign concerning all the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 59) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 30 January 2018 (Case R 741/2017-5) concerning an application for registration of the word sign DENTALDISK as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Nemius Group GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). |

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