Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 23 September 2020 –  
Clouds Sky v EUIPO – The Cloud Networks (Wi-Fi Powered by The Cloud)

(Case T‑738/19)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Wi-Fi Powered by The Cloud – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – No descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence presented for the first time before it – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see para. 17) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 30) |

| 3. | European Union trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 31) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 32, 43) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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 – Features revealing the descriptive character of a sign – Reference to online databases  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 38) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark Wi-Fi Powered by The Cloud  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 41, 48) |

| 7. | 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 para. 52) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and (c) and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 53) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 September 2019 (Case R 696/2019-5) relating to invalidity proceedings between Clouds Sky and The Cloud Networks.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Clouds Sky GmbH to pay the costs. |

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