Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| 17.7.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 252/44 |

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Judgment of the General Court of 7 June 2023 — Aprile and Commerciale Italiana v EUIPO — DC Comics (Representation of a bat in an oval surround)

(Case T-735/21) [(1)](#ntr1-C_2023252EN.01004401-E0001)

(EU trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - Figurative EU trade mark representing a bat in an oval surround - Absolute grounds for invalidity - Distinctive character - No descriptive character - Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) - Restriction of the goods covered by the application for a declaration of invalidity - Obligation to state reasons)

(2023/C 252/50)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicants: Luigi Aprile (San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Italy), Commerciale Italiana Srl (Nola, Italy) (represented by: C. Saettel, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: T. Frydendahl, Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: DC Comics (Burbank, California, United States) (represented by: G. Glas, P. Van Dyck and E. Taelman, lawyers)

Re:

By their action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicants seek annulment of the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 6 September 2021 (Case R 1447/2020-2).

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

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| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

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| 2. | Orders Mr Luigi Aprile and Commerciale Italiana Srl to pay the costs. |

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