Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 23 May 2019 –  
Sintokogio v EUIPO (ProAssist)

(Case T‑439/18)

(EU trade mark — International registration designating the European Union — Word mark ProAssist — Absolute ground for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001 — Equal treatment)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Decisions of EUIPO — Observance of the rights of the defence — Scope of the principle  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), 2nd sentence)  (see para. 15) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Condition of admissibility — Grounds of appeal directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))  (see para. 23) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — Article 94(1), first sentence, of Regulation 2017/1001 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), 1st sentence)  (see para. 24) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Meaning — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 31-34) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Trade mark made up of several elements — Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark — Scope of protection of the mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 39) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark ProAssist  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 43, 48, 51, 59, 61) |

| 7. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paras 55-58) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 3 May 2018 (Case R 2341/2017-2), relating to the international registration designating the European Union in respect of the word mark ProAssist.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Sintokogio Ltd to pay the costs. |

[Top](#document1)