Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 4 April 2019 — Stada Arzneimittel v EUIPO (Representation of two facing arches)

(Case T‑804/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for an EU figurative mark representing two facing arches — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Concept — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 16, 17) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 18) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Recognition of the distinctiveness of the sign not subject to a finding of a certain level of creativity or linguistic or artistic imagination  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 19) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Sign composed of a basic geometric figure  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 20) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark representing two facing arches  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 22, ‑28, 31, 33-35, 45, 46) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of EUIPO — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 29) |

| 7. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 30) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and Art. 94, first sentence)  see paras 38-44 |

| 9. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion — Registration of a new trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Burden of proof  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and Art. 95(1))  (see para. 49) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 20 September 2017 (Case R 1887/2016-1) relating to an application for registration of a figurative sign representing two facing arches as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Stada Arzneimittel AG to pay the costs. |

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