Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 19 October 2022 –  
Louis Vuitton Malletier v EUIPO – Wisniewski (Representation of a chequerboard pattern II)

(Case T‑275/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0275_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark representing a chequerboard pattern – Absolute ground for invalidity – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) and Article 51(2) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(3) and Article 59(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Overall assessment of the evidence of distinctive character acquired through use – Geographical scope of the evidence of distinctive character acquired through use – Evidence of use of the mark on the internet – Evidence regarding infringement proceedings)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and (3), and 51(1))  (see paragraphs 19, 22, 23) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and (3), and 51(1))  (see paragraphs 20, 21) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Scope – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the EU – Acquisition by use also throughout the EU  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and (3), and 51(2))  (see paragraphs 24, 25) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Probative value of the evidence  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and (3), and 51(2))  (see paragraphs 26-28) |

| 5. | Judicial proceedings – Proof – Probative value – Criteria for assessment – Principles of the unfettered adduction of evidence and the unfettered evaluation of evidence  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 41 and 47; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 85)  (see paragraphs 29-31) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark representing a chequerboard pattern  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and (3), and 51(1))  (see paragraphs 50, 61, 71, 77, 85-97, 109, 113, 117-120, 128, 140) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Louis Vuitton Malletier to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0275_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 263, 5.7.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:263:TOC).

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