Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 19 January 2022 –  
Tecnica Group v EUIPO – Zeitneu (Shape of a boot)

(Case T‑483/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU three-dimensional mark – Shape of a boot – Declaration of partial invalidity – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Decisions of EU trade mark courts ruling on an action for a declaration of non-infringement – Res judicata)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Modification of the terms of the dispute as brought before the Board of Appeal – Not permissible  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188)  (see para. 21) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1), 59 and 95(1))  (see paras 22, 57, 58, 65) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3) and 52(2))  (see paras 24, 29) |

| 4. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 47) |

| 5. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law relied on – Similar requirements for submissions made in support of a plea – Imprecise formulation of a claim – Inadmissibility  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))  (see para. 73) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 81-84) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 85-88) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade mark consisting of the shape of a boot  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 92, 95, 96, 101, 109, 110) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 May 2020 (Case R 1093/2019-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Zeitneu and Tecnica Group.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Tecnica Group SpA to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Zeitneu GmbH. |

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