Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 26 October 2022 –  
Gameageventures v EUIPO (GAME TOURNAMENTS)

(Case T‑776/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0776_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark GAME TOURNAMENTS – Absolute grounds for refusal – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001 – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Right to be heard – Equal treatment – Principle of sound administration)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 15-19, 23, 24, 34, 48) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark GAME TOURNAMENTS  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 27, 45, 51, 54, 57, 87) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products 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) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 53, 92) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(3))  (see paragraphs 67, 68, 74, 76) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Probative value of the evidence – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(3))  (see paragraphs 77, 78, 81) |

| 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 – 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 paragraphs 91, 94, 95) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1))  (see paragraphs 99, 100) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 106) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Gameageventures LLP to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0776_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 64, 7.2.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:064:TOC).

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