Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 17 January 2024 –  
Ilovepdf v EUIPO (ILOVEPDF)

(Case T‑60/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0060_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark ILOVEPDF – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Legitimate expectations – Equal treatment)

| 1. | 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 – Essential procedural requirement  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 17, 18, 73) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)  (see paragraph 21) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 36, 37) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 38, 39) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Word mark ILOVEPDF  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 46, 52, 53, 55-58, 61) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 59) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 65, 66) |

| 8. | EU law – Principles – Protection of legitimate expectations – Conditions – Specific assurances given by the authorities  (see paragraph 68) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Ilovepdf, SL and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) each to bear their own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0060_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 112, 27.3.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:112:TOC).

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