Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 4 July 2019 –  
romwell v EUIPO (twistpac)

(Case T‑662/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark twistpac — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Duty of care — Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 — Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 14) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Meaning  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 15) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 16) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Meaning — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 17) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Word mark twistpac  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 19, 25, 26, 28, 30, 36, 39-41, 45, 53, 57, 58, 62) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion — Duty of diligence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see para. 55) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 August 2018 (Case R 336/2018-2) concerning an application for registration of the word sign twistpac as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed. |

| 2. | romwell GmbH & Co. KG is ordered to pay the costs. |

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