Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 10 July 2024 –  
Bartex Bartol v EUIPO – Grupa Chorten (duch puszczy)

(Case T‑473/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0473_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark duch puszczy – Absolute ground for invalidity – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 – Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 16(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision of the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Facts and evidence not produced in support of the opposition within the period prescribed for that purpose – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – New or supplementary evidence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))  (see paragraphs 19-23) |

| 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 46, 47) |

| 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 – Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 48) |

| 4. | 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 – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 49, 62) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for invalidity – Date of filing of the application for registration  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7 and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 51, 54) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paragraph 69) |

| 7. | Community 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paragraph 70) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Refusal of registration based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Whether sufficient  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1))  (see paragraph 73) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods – Word mark duch puszczy  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 55, 56, 63, 71) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Bartex Bartol sp. z o.o. sp. k. to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Grupa Chorten sp. z o.o.; |

| 3. | Declares that the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is to bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0473_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 329, 18.9.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:329:TOC).

[Top](#document1)