Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 4 July 2017 —  
Pirelli Tyre v EUIPO (A pair of curved strips positioned on the side of a tyre)

(Case T‑81/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for an EU trade mark consisting of a pair of curved strips on the side of a tyre — Absolute ground for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — No distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(3) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Article 76 of Regulation No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies — Precluded  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 13) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)  (see paras 19-22, 28) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 44-48) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Recognition of the distinctiveness of the sign not subject to a finding of a certain level of creativity or linguistic or artistic imagination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 49, 50, 61) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark representing a pair of curved strips positioned on the side of a tyre  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 53, 58, 64) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (see para. 63) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Exception — Distinctive character acquired through use — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) to (d), and (3))  (see paras 69, 70, 73-76) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Exception — Distinctive character acquired through use — Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the EU — Acquisition by use also throughout the EU  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see paras 71, 72) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 December 2015 (Case R 1019/2015-1) concerning an application for registration of a sign consisting of a pair of curved strips on the side of a tyre as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Pirelli Tyre SpA to pay the costs. |

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