Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 5 October 2022 –  
Magnetec v EUIPO (Light blue)

(Case T‑168/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0168_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for an EU trade mark consisting of a shade of light blue – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Limitation of goods designated by the trade mark application – Article 49(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Requirements of clarity and precision – Article 33(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Registration procedure – Withdrawal, restriction and amendment of the trade mark application – Application to restrict the list of goods or services – Procedures – Requirement of clarity  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 49(1))  (see paragraphs 21, 22) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Limitation of the list of products and services after the decision of the Board of Appeal – Consequences  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 49(1))  (see paragraph 27) |

| 3. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 48, 77) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 60, 78) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Signs of which a trade mark may consist – Colours or combinations of colours – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 4 and 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 61, 62) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 18 January 2021 (Case R 217/2020-4); |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0168_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 217, 7.6.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:217:TOC).

[Top](#document1)