Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 14 June 2023 –  
Corver v EUIPO (CHR ME)

(Case T‑446/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0446_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark CHR ME – Absolute ground for invalidity – Descriptive character – 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 consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 20, 21, 52) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 22, 30, 31) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark CHR ME  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 36, 50, 62, 63, 74, 75, 77) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 43-45, 49) |

| 6. | 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 goods 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 paragraph 55) |

| 7. | 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 stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 70-73) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Serge-Paul Corver and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear their own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0446_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 326, 29.8.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:326:TOC).

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