Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 8 December 2021 –  
Talleres de Escoriaza v EUIPO – Salto Systems (KAAS KEYS AS A SERVICE)

(Case T‑294/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark KAAS KEYS AS A SERVICE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Signs or indications which have become customary – Article 7(1)(d) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(d) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Obligation to state reasons – Right to be heard – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Not included  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see para. 23) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paras 35, 36) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of the Office – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)  (see paras 43, 44) |

| 4. | 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, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 56) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 57, 58, 65) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity – Date of lodging the application for registration – Taking into account of evidence subsequent to that date – Whether permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1))  (see paras 60, 61) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark KAAS KEYS AS A SERVICE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 62-64, 72-74, 81, 90) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which have become customary in the current language or in the bona fide and established practices of the trade – Customary character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(d))  (see paras 98-101) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which have become customary in the current language or in the bona fide and established practices of the trade – Word mark KAAS KEYS AS A SERVICE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(d) and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 106) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 28 February 2020 (Case R 1363/2019-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Talleres de Escoriaza and Salto Systems.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Talleres de Escoriaza, SA to pay the costs. |

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