Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 17 November 2021 –  
Think Schuhwerk v EUIPO (Shape of red shoe lace aglets)

(Case T‑298/19)

(EU Trade Mark – Application for a figurative EU trade mark representing red shoe lace aglets – Rejection of application – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Essentially identical previous application – No res judicata – Obligation to state reasons – Right to be heard – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motion – Article 95 of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings – Res judicata – Scope – Inadmissibility of a second action – Conditions – Parties, subject matter and cause of the two actions identical  (see paras 28, 29) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Sign being confused with the appearance of the designated product  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 34-36) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Red shoe lace aglets  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 41-44, 49, 66) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal – Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them – Use of a relevant criterion in the context of Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 in the interpretation of subparagraph (b) of that provision – Not permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 45-48) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Scope  (Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1))  (see paras 55, 56) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (see paras 81, 82) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 1 March 2019 (Case R 1170/2018-5), concerning an application for registration of a figurative sign representing red shoe lace aglets as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Think Schuhwerk GmbH to pay the costs. |

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