Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 4 May 2022 –  
Deichmann v EUIPO – Munich (Representation of two crossed stripes placed on the side of a shoe)

(Case T‑117/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0117_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark representing a cross on the side of a sports shoe – Article 7(1)(b) and Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 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 – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 17) |

| 2. | Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Plea based on absence or inadequacy of the statement of reasons – Plea alleging incorrectness of the statement of reasons – Distinction  (Art. 296 TFEU)  (see paras 18, 19) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of the Office – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)  (see para. 34) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 50-53) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria – Perception of the trade mark by the relevant public – Attention level of the public  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see para. 54) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark representing a cross on the side of a sports shoe  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 60-65, 71) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Deichmann SE to pay the costs of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and of Munich, SL. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0117_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 128, 12.4.2021.](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:128:TOC)

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