Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 26 June 2024 –  
Peikko Group v EUIPO – Anstar (Shape of metal beams for construction)

(Case T-192/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0192_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of metal beams for construction – Absolute ground for invalidity – Sign consisting exclusively of the shape of the product necessary to obtain a technical result – Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of essential non-functional characteristics)

| 1. | 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 – Concept – Interpretation in the light of the general interest underlying the ground of refusal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 12, 13) |

| 2. | 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 – Concept – Presence of non-essential characteristics with no technical function – Existence of other shapes allowing the same technical result to be obtained – No relevance for the cause of nullity  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 14, 54) |

| 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 – Identification of the essential characteristics of a sign – Distinctive character of the elements of a sign or distinctive character acquired through use of a sign – Irrelevant  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 24-26, 41) |

| 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 average consumer – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 36-38) |

| 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 – Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of metal beams for construction  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 39, 44, 60, 68, 77, 79, 98, 110) |

| 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 – Assessment of the essential characteristics in the light of the technical function of the goods  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 52, 53, 62) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7 and 95(1))  (see paragraph 93) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Condition of admissibility – Pleas directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))  (see paragraph 97) |

| 9. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary statement of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Pleas in law not set out in the application – General reference to other documents – Inadmissibility  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see paragraph 109) |

Operative part

The Court

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Peikko Group Oy to pay its own costs as well as those incurred by Anstar Oy for the purposes of the proceedings before the General Court; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0192_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 189, 30.5.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:189:TOC).

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