Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 25 June 2020 –  
Brands Up v EUIPO (Credit24)

(Case T‑651/19)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark Credit24 – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeal proceedings – Action before the EU Courts – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Alteration of a decision of the Office – Assessment in the light of the powers conferred on the Board of Appeal  (Regulation2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 72(3))  (see paras 13, 14) |

| 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 – Concept  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 26) |

| 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  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 27) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptiveness of a sign – Criteria  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council1, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 28, 43, 56, 57) |

| 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 – Figurative mark Credit24  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 46, 50, 54, 55, 60, 61) |

| 6. | 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 – Word composed of elements describing characteristics of the goods or services concerned – Whether included where the nature of the combination is not unusual  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 52, 53) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO's previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council)  (see paras 63-65) |

| 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  (Regulation 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council)  (see para. 66) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 July 2019 (Case R 465/2019-2), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign Credit24 as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Brands UP OÜ to pay the costs. |

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