Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 3 July 2024 –  
Sophienwald v EUIPO – Zalto Glas (Sw Sophienwald)

(Case T‑597/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0597_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Sw Sophienwald – Absolute ground for invalidity – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) and Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Application for a declaration of invalidity – Determination of the grounds on which the application for a declaration of invalidity is based  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(a))  (see paragraph 21) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95)  (see paragraph 23) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods – Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 35, 36) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 37, 42, 52) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Geographical names  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 38-41) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Decisions of national authorities not binding on EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paragraphs 58, 76) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service –Figurative mark Sw Sophienwald  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 59, 60, 62-64, 69-71, 75, 77) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Sophienwald AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO); |

| 3. | Orders Zalto Glas GmbH to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0597_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 441, 21.11.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:441:TOC).

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