Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 30 June 2021 –  
Welter’s v EUIPO (Shape of a handgrip with a brush)

(Case T‑624/19)

(EU trade mark – Application for three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of a handgrip with a brush – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 66(1), 71(1), 72(3))  (see paras 10-12) |

| 2. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see para. 16) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 23-27, 33) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Shape of a handgrip with a brush  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 43, 48-51) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – 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  (see para. 52) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Prior registration of the trade mark in certain Member States – Effect  (see para. 57) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 11 July 2019 (Case R 2428/2018-5) concerning an application for registration of a three-dimensional sign consisting of the shape of a handgrip with a brush as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Welter’s Co. Ltd to pay the costs. |

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