Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 23 November 2022 –  
General Wire Spring v EUIPO (GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS)

(Case T‑151/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0151_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptiveness – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 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 produced for the first time before it – Not included  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 15) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 19-21) |

| 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 – Word mark GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 32, 33, 39-43) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Refusal of registration based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Whether sufficient  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))  (see paragraphs 49, 50) |

| 5. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 54, 55) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders General Wire Spring Co. to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0151_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 198, 16.5.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:198:TOC).

[Top](#document1)