Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 7 June 2023 –  
Roxtec and Wallmax v EUIPO – Wallmax and Roxtec (Representation of a blue square containing eight concentric black circles)

(Joined Cases T‑218/22 and T‑219/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0218_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative trade mark representing a blue square containing eight concentric black circles – Absolute ground of invalidity – Sign consisting exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Condition of admissibility – Actionable measures – Grounds of a decision – Not included  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraph 18) |

| 2. | 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 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraph 28) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Aim  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraph 29) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Perception of the goods and services covered by the registration  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraphs 30, 31) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Identification of the essential characteristics of a sign  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraphs 34, 36) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Trade mark representing a blue square containing eight concentric black circles or the frontal section of a sealing module  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraphs 35, 37, 48, 49) |

| 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 grounds for refusal in the light of the intrinsic qualities of the mark  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paragraph 50) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the actions; |

| 2. | Orders Roxtec AB, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Wallmax Srl to bear their own costs in Case T‑218/22; |

| 3. | Orders Wallmax to pay the costs in Case T‑219/22. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0218_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 237, 20.6.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:237:TOC).

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