Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 22 March 2023 –  
Casa International v EUIPO – Interstyle (casa)

(Case T‑650/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0650_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark casa – Absolute ground for invalidity – No distinctive character – 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) – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) of Regulation No 40/94 (now Article 7(3) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 37) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 38, 40-42) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 39, 61) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 43, 44) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark casa  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and (3) and 51(1)(a) and (2))  (see paragraphs 51, 68, 74, 94, 112, 116) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 54) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(3) and 51(2))  (see paragraphs 80, 82-88, 98) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(3) and 51(2))  (see paragraphs 81, 93) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the Union – Acquisition through use also throughout the Union  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(3))  (see paragraph 105) |

| 10. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Probative value of the evidence  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(3) and 51(2))  (see paragraphs 106-108) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 13 July 2021 (Case R 1280/2020-2) in so far as it dismissed the appeal filed by Casa International as regards the following goods in Class 16: ‘Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; printed matter; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artists’ materials; brushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); [instructional and teaching materials (except apparatus)]; plastic materials for packing (not included in other classes); printing types; [printing blocks]’; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |

| 3. | Orders each party to bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0650_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 490, 6.12.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:490:TOC).

[Top](#document1)