Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 31 January 2018 — Weber-Stephen Products v EUIPO (iGrill)

(Case T‑35/17)

(EU trade mark — International registration designating the European Union — Word mark iGrill — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now 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 composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service—Aim—Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 14) |

| 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—Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 15-17, 32) |

| 3. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 18) |

| 4. | 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—Word mark iGrill  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 20-23, 33, 34, 37, 38) |

| 5. | EU trade mark—Decisions of the Office—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. 36) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 November 2016 (Case R 538/2016–2), relating to the international registration designating the European Union of the word mark iGrill.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Weber-Stephen Products LLC to pay the costs. |

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