Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 16 December 2020 –  
Cinkciarz.pl v EUIPO (€$)

(Case T‑665/19)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark €$ – Absolute ground for refusal – Lack of distinctiveness – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation No 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paras 27, 28) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate consideration of the pleas in law having regard to every one 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 paras 29-33) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge – No such obligation – Dispute before the General Court  (Art. 256 TFEU; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see para. 63) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 76, 78) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Trade mark made up of several elements – Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark – Need to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 77) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – 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, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 79) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal – Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 80) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark €$  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 87-90, 93, 108-111) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Absence of elements of assessment other than those resulting from the customs of the sector – Taking into consideration of methods of use liable to be significant in practice  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 95) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 July 2019 (Case R 1345/2018-1) regarding an application for registration of the figurative sign €$ as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Cinkciarz.pl sp. z o.o. to pay the costs. |

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