Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 June 2017 —  
Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel v EUIPO — Tiertafel Deutschland (Tafel)

(Case T‑326/16)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark Tafel — Enforcement by EUIPO of a judgment setting aside a decision of one of its Boards of Appeal — Absolute ground for refusal — Article 52(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Descriptive character — Article 65(6) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Decision taken following the annulment by the General Court of an earlier decision)

| 1. | Actions for annulment — Judgment annulling a measure — Effects — Obligation to implement — Scope — Both the operative part and the grounds of the judgment to be taken into account — Retroactive effect of annulment  (Art. 266 TFEU)  (see paras 18, 19) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Implementation of a judgment annulling a decision adopted by a Board of Appeal — New examination of the appeal  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(6))  (see paras 20-22) |

| 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 32) |

| 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 — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 33-37) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Word mark Tafel  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 39-44) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies — Precluded  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 46) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Exception — Acquisition through use — Examination by the Office — Limitation to the facts and evidence raised by the trade mark applicant  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3))  (see para. 49) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Assessment of the registrability of a sign — EU rules only taken into account — Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries — Decisions not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 51) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 April 2016 (Case R 248/2016-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Tiertafel Deutschland and Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel eV to pay the costs. |

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