Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Single Judge) of 17 May 2023 –  
Consulta v EUIPO – Karlinger (ACASA)

(Case T‑267/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0267_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark ACASA – Absolute ground for invalidity – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 20, 21) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Failure to refer to means of obtaining redress – Irrelevant  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 22) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Clerical error – Irrelevant – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 38, 39) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Laudatory promotional formula  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 41, 51) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraph 42) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark ACASA  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 44, 45, 47-50, 53-56) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 57, 58) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – Solely EU rules 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 paragraph 59) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Consulta GmbH to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0267_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 257, 4.7.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:257:TOC).

[Top](#document1)