Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 20 September 2023 –  
Procter & Gamble v EUIPO (Safeguard)

(Case T‑210/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0210_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark Safeguard – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 13, 15, 36) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 14) |

| 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 –Figurative mark Safeguard  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 25, 47, 48, 52, 60, 61, 75) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 33, 57) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 42-44) |

| 6. | 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  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraph 66) |

| 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 No 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 69-71) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders The Procter & Gamble Company to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0210_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 222, 7.6.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:222:TOC).

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