Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 25 June 2020 –  
Off-White v EUIPO (OFF-WHITE)

(Case T‑133/19)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark OFF-WHITE – Partial rejection of the application for registration – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – No distinctive character – Name of a colour – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 20, 22, 23, 35) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark OFF-WHITE  (Regulation 2017/1001of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 32, 46, 56-59) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of a characteristic  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 36, 37) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal – Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 50-52) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 54, 55) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 December 2018 (Case R-580/2018-2), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign OFF-WHITE as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 14 December 2018 (Case R-580/2018-2), in so far as it refused registration as an EU trade mark of the figurative sign OFF-WHITE in respect of the goods in Classes 9 and 20 of the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended, and for ‘watches; wall clocks; horological and chronometric instruments; watch bands; watch cases; presentation boxes for watches; jewelry cases’ and ‘precious stones, semi-precious stones’ in Class 14; |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Off-White LLC, including the expenses necessarily incurred for the purpose of the appeal proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO. |

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