Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 21 April 2021 –  
Hell Energy Magyarország v EUIPO (HELL)

(Case T‑323/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark HELL – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 22, 24-26, 30) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 23) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of the EUIPO’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge – None  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see para. 27) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 28) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark HELL  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 32, 45, 50) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal – Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 54-56) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 58, 59) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark HELL  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 62-65) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 25 March 2020 (Case R 1712/2019-2), concerning an application for registration of the word sign HELL as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 25 March 2020 (Case R 1712/2019-2); |

| 2. | Orders each party to bear its own costs. |

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