Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

JUDGMENT OF THE GENERAL COURT (Sixth Chamber)

15 October 2025 ([\*](#Footnote*))

( EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Frutaria – Absolute ground for invalidity – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) and Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(3) and Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94 )

In Case T‑381/24,

**Frutaria Innovation SL,** established in Zaragoza (Spain), represented by M. Anadón Giménez and J. Learte Álvarez, lawyers,

applicant,

v

**European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO),** represented by T. Klee, acting as Agent,

defendant,

the other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court, being

**Markus Schneider,** residing in Bonn (Germany), represented by F. Klopmeier and F. Breuer, lawyers,

THE GENERAL COURT (Sixth Chamber),

composed, at the time of the deliberations, of M.J. Costeira, President, U. Öberg and E. Tichy-Fisslberger (Rapporteur), Judges,

Registrar: G. Mitrev, Administrator,

having regard to the written part of the procedure,

further to the hearing on 10 June 2025,

gives the following

**Judgment**

1        By its action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicant, Frutaria Innovation SL, seeks the partial annulment of the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 27 May 2024 (Case R 1377/2023-2), as corrected on 17 July 2024 (‘the contested decision’).

**Background to the dispute**

2        On 24 February 2022, the intervener, Mr Markus Schneider, filed with EUIPO an application for a declaration of invalidity of the EU trade mark which had been registered following an application filed on 22 May 2007 in respect of the following figurative sign:

![Image not found](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAATcAAADGCAIAAAA4+VBtAAAAIGNIUk0AAHomAACAhAAA+gAAA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)

3        The goods and services covered by the contested mark in respect of which a declaration of invalidity was sought were in, inter alia, Classes 29, 31 and 35 of the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended, and corresponded, for each of those classes, to the following description:

–        Class 29: ‘Dried fruits’;

–        Class 31: ‘Fresh fruits’;

–        Class 35: ‘Export of fresh fruits’.

4        The grounds relied on in support of the application for a declaration of invalidity were those set out in Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the European Union trade mark (OJ 2017 L 154, p. 1), read in conjunction with Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of that regulation.

5        On 4 May 2023, the Cancellation Division dismissed the application for a declaration of invalidity.

6        On 3 July 2023, the intervener filed a notice of appeal with EUIPO against the Cancellation Division’s decision.

7        On 27 May 2024, the Board of Appeal partially annulled the Cancellation Division’s decision.

8        In particular, first, that Board of Appeal found, in essence, that the contested mark was descriptive of ‘dried fruits’ in Class 29 and ‘fresh fruits’ in Class 31 (‘the goods concerned’), for the purposes of Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001, and, consequently, that it was also devoid of any distinctive character in respect of those goods, within the meaning of Article 7(1)(b) of that regulation. By contrast, the Board of Appeal found that the contested mark was not descriptive of the ‘export of fresh fruits’ in Class 35, nor devoid of any distinctive character in respect of those services.

9        Second, the Board of Appeal found that the applicant had not demonstrated that the contested mark had acquired distinctive character through use within the meaning of Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001, read in conjunction with Article 7(3) of that regulation, in the relevant territory in respect of the goods concerned.

10      On 11 June 2024, the applicant submitted a request for correction of the Board of Appeal’s decision of 27 May 2024.

11      On 17 July 2024, the Board of Appeal adopted a corrigendum to the decision of 27 May 2024, in accordance with Article 102(1) of Regulation 2017/1001, on the grounds that, contrary to what had been stated in that decision, the application for a declaration of invalidity was upheld in respect of the goods concerned, and rejected as to the remainder, namely for the ‘export of fresh fruits’ in Class 35. Consequently, paragraphs 83, 113 and 114 of that decision, and points 1 and 2 of the operative part thereof, have been corrected to that effect.

**Forms of order sought**

12      The applicant claims, in essence, that the Court should:

–        annul the contested decision in so far as the contested mark was declared invalid in respect of the goods concerned;

–        order EUIPO to pay the costs, including those incurred in the proceedings before the Board of Appeal.

13      EUIPO contends that the Court should:

–        dismiss the action;

–        order the applicant to pay the costs incurred by EUIPO in the event that a hearing is convened.

14      The intervener contends that the Court should:

–        dismiss the action;

–        order the applicant to pay the costs.

**Law**

15      Given the date on which the application for registration at issue was filed, namely 22 May 2007, which is decisive for the purpose of identifying the applicable substantive law, the facts of the case are governed by the substantive provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark (OJ 1994 L 11, p. 1) (see, to that effect, order of 5 October 2004, *Alcon* v *OHIM*, C‑192/03 P, EU:C:2004:587, paragraphs 39 and 40, and judgment of 23 April 2020, *Gugler France* v *Gugler and EUIPO*, C‑736/18 P, not published, EU:C:2020:308, paragraph 3 and the case-law cited).

16      Consequently, in the present case, so far as concerns the substantive rules, the references to Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001, read in conjunction with Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of that regulation, and to Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001, read in conjunction with Article 7(3) of that regulation, made by the Board of Appeal in the contested decision and by the parties in their written submissions must be understood as referring respectively to Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation No 40/94, read in conjunction with Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of that regulation, and to Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94, read in conjunction with Article 7(3) of that regulation.

17      In support of its action, the applicant relies, in essence, on three pleas in law, alleging, first, infringement of Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation No 40/94, read in conjunction with Article 7(1)(c) of that regulation, second, infringement of Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation No 40/94, read in conjunction with Article 7(1)(b) of that regulation, and, third, infringement of Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94, read in conjunction with Article 7(3) of that regulation.

***The first plea in law, alleging infringement of** **Article 51****(1)(a) of Regulation** **No 4****0/94, read in conjunction with** **Article 7****(1)(c) of that regulation***

18      The applicant claims, in essence, that the contested mark, taken as a whole, cannot be regarded as descriptive in respect of the goods concerned. In particular, the applicant argues that the contested mark contains figurative elements that make that mark non-descriptive.

19      EUIPO and the intervener dispute the applicant’s arguments.

20      It should be recalled at the outset that, under Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation No 40/94, an EU trade mark is to be declared invalid on application to EUIPO where the EU trade mark has been registered contrary to the provisions of Article 7 of that regulation.

21      Under Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94, trade marks which consist exclusively of signs or indications which may serve, in trade, to designate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin or the time of production of the goods or of rendering of the service, or other characteristics of the goods or service are not to be registered. Under Article 7(2) of that regulation, Article 7(1) is to apply notwithstanding that the grounds of non-registrability obtain in only part of the European Union.

22      Those signs or indications are deemed incapable of performing the essential function of a trade mark, namely that of identifying the commercial origin of the goods or services (judgments of 23 October 2003, *OHIM* v *Wrigley*, C‑191/01 P, EU:C:2003:579, paragraph 30, and of 27 February 2002, *Eurocool Logistik* v *OHIM (EUROCOOL)*, T‑34/00, EU:T:2002:41, paragraph 37).

23      For a sign to be caught by the prohibition set out in Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94, there must be a relationship between the sign and the goods or services in question that is sufficiently direct and specific to enable the relevant public immediately to perceive, without further thought, a description of the goods and services in question or of one of their characteristics (see judgments of 12 January 2005, *Deutsche Post EURO EXPRESS* v *OHIM (EUROPREMIUM)*, T‑334/03, EU:T:2005:4, paragraph 25 and the case-law cited, and of 22 June 2005, *Metso Paper Automation* v *OHIM (PAPERLAB)*, T‑19/04, EU:T:2005:247, paragraph 25 and the case-law cited).

24      Whether a sign is descriptive can be assessed only, first, by reference to the goods or services concerned and, second, by reference to the understanding which the relevant public has of the sign (see judgment of 25 October 2005, *Peek & Cloppenburg* v *OHIM (Cloppenburg)*, T‑379/03, EU:T:2005:373, paragraph 37 and the case-law cited).

*The relevant public*

25      As regards the relevant public, the Board of Appeal noted, in paragraph 26 of the contested decision, that it was common ground between the parties that the word element ‘frutaria’ of the contested mark was a Portuguese word and that it would be understood by the Portuguese-speaking part of the relevant public as meaning a ‘fruit shop’. In those circumstances, the Board of Appeal stated, in paragraphs 26 to 28 of the contested decision, that it was focusing solely on the perception of that part of the relevant public, since, in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation No 40/94, a trade mark is not to be registered notwithstanding that the grounds of non-registrability obtain in only part of the European Union.

26      There is no need to call into question those assessments, which are, moreover, not disputed by the applicant.

27      Furthermore, in paragraph 30 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal found, in essence, that the goods concerned were everyday goods aimed at average consumers with a below-average level of attention. In paragraph 105 of the contested decision, the Board stated that the relevant public was the public at large.

28      The applicant disputes that assessment. It argues, in essence, that the goods concerned are aimed at both the general public and professionals.

29      EUIPO and the intervener dispute the applicant’s arguments.

30      Admittedly, it is true, as EUIPO correctly maintains, that the goods concerned are everyday food products intended for all consumers, that is to say the general public.

31      However, as the applicant has argued, it cannot be ruled out that the relevant public consists not only of the general public, but also of professionals.

32      That being said, in the light of the nature of the goods concerned, the purchase of which does not, as a general rule, elicit careful consideration on the part of consumers, the level of attention of the relevant public cannot be considered to be different from that found by the Board of Appeal.

*The understanding of the contested mark*

33      First, the Board of Appeal noted, in paragraphs 34 to 39 of the contested decision, that the Portuguese word ‘frutaria’ could be considered to be descriptive of the goods concerned for the relevant public, since those goods are generally sold in a fruit shop.

34      Second, with regard to the figurative elements and the stylisation of the contested mark, the Board of Appeal found, in paragraphs 56 and 58 of the contested decision, that the figurative elements were banal, were commonly used in relation to foodstuffs and would be perceived as decorative elements serving to accentuate the overall prominence of the word element in that mark. In paragraph 63 of the contested decision, that Board of Appeal found that the stylisation of the word element was simple. In paragraph 57 of the contested decision, it noted that the mere addition of the colour green, which was commonly used in the field of foodstuffs, to the descriptive word element was not sufficient to give the contested mark distinctive character, but would be perceived as a decorative element. According to the Board of Appeal, those figurative elements and that stylisation of the contested mark were not sufficiently striking, either taken in isolation or as a whole, to divert the relevant public from the descriptive meaning of the word element ‘frutaria’ (paragraph 78 of the contested decision).

35      In particular, the Board of Appeal found that: (i) the underlining of the word element ‘frutaria’ did not change the descriptive character of the contested mark; (ii) the semicircle around that word element was merely a decorative flourish; (iii)the curved elements highlighted that element without being an indication of commercial origin; (iv) the green square was a simple, basic geometric shape devoid of any distinctive character per se; and (v) last, the stylisation of the word element, consisting of a common font, was very simple (paragraphs 59 to 63 of the contested decision).

36      The applicant argues that the figurative elements of the contested mark, namely the wavy line, the semicircle, the green square and colour green, do not evoke the goods concerned, with the result that they cannot be regarded as descriptive of those goods. The applicant also complains that the Board of Appeal did not examine the contested mark as a whole. It submits, in essence, that the combination of the figurative elements and the stylised word element is sufficiently distinctive, as a whole, to be perceived as an indication of the commercial origin of the goods concerned. Moreover, according to the applicant, the figurative elements are arranged creatively to build a corporate image. It further states that the presence of a wavy line builds a stable corporate image according to the judgment of 13 October 2021, *Schneider* v *EUIPO – Frutaria Comercial de Frutas y Hortalizas (Frutaria)*  (T‑12/20, not published, EU:T:2021:702). Last, the applicant complains that the Board of Appeal did not follow EUIPO’s guidelines or decision-making practice. It refers to several decisions of the Boards of Appeal and of the Cancellation Division of EUIPO to support its argument that the contested mark, taken as a whole, has a certain degree of distinctive character and is memorable to the relevant public.

37      EUIPO and the intervener dispute the applicant’s arguments.

38      In that regard, it should be borne in mind that, as regards a composite mark, the assessment as to whether it is descriptive cannot be limited to an evaluation of each of its words or elements, considered in isolation, but must, in any event, be based on the relevant public’s overall perception of that mark and not on the presumption that elements that are individually not descriptive cannot, on being combined, be descriptive. The mere fact that each of those elements, considered separately, is not descriptive does not mean that the combination of those elements cannot be descriptive (see, to that effect, judgment of 8 May 2008, *Eurohypo* v *OHIM*, C‑304/06 P, EU:C:2008:261, paragraphs 41 and 42 and the case-law cited).

39      The examination of whether a composite mark, taken as a whole, is descriptive of the goods and services covered is not, however, inconsistent with a successive examination of the different composite elements of the mark in question (see judgment of 12 April 2016, *Choice* v *EUIPO (Choice chocolate & ice cream)*, T‑361/15, not published, EU:T:2016:214, paragraph 23 and the case-law cited).

40      Furthermore, as the Board of Appeal correctly noted in paragraph 49 of the contested decision, where the word element of a composite mark is descriptive of the goods covered, the decisive question is whether, from the point of view of the relevant public, the figurative elements change the meaning of the sign at issue as a whole in relation to the goods covered. Thus, where the word element of a mark is descriptive, the mark is, as a whole, descriptive if the graphic elements of that mark do not divert the relevant public’s attention from the descriptive message conveyed by the word element (see judgment of 26 April 2018, *Pfalzmarkt für Obst und Gemüse* v *EUIPO (100% Pfalz)*, T‑220/17, not published, EU:T:2018:229, paragraph 29 and the case-law cited).

41      As a preliminary point, there is no need to call into question the Board of Appeal’s assessment, in paragraph 18 of the contested decision, that the relevant date for the purpose of assessing the descriptive character of the contested mark is that on which the application for registration was filed, namely 22 May 2007.

42      As regards the word element ‘frutaria’ of the contested mark, the applicant does not dispute the Board of Appeal’s assessment that that element will be understood by the Portuguese-speaking part of the relevant public as meaning a ‘fruit shop’ (see paragraph 25 above) and accordingly a shop or a place where the goods concerned are sold, with the result that that element has descriptive character.

43      In such circumstances, the decisive question is whether, from the point of view of the relevant public, the figurative elements change the meaning of the contested mark as a whole in relation to the goods concerned (see paragraph 40 above).

44      With regard to those figurative elements, contrary to what the applicant claims, the green square, the semicircle and the wavy line are characterised by their simple, ordinary and not very stylised representation, with the result that the Board of Appeal was correct in finding, in paragraph 66 of the contested decision, that, from the point of view of the relevant public, those elements could not change the meaning of the contested mark as a whole, resulting from the word element ‘frutaria’, in relation to the goods concerned.

45      As regards the stylisation of the word element, the Board of Appeal was correct in finding, in paragraph 63 of the contested decision, that it was only simple, since that element is represented in one common font in green and in bold. On account of its simplicity, the stylisation of the word element is not such as to influence the understanding or the meaning of that element and, consequently, of the contested mark as a whole.

46      It follows that the Board of Appeal correctly found, in paragraphs 63 to 66 and 78 of the contested decision, that the figurative elements of the contested mark, including the stylisation of the word element, taking into account, in essence, their shape and position, did not divert the relevant public’s attention from the descriptive message conveyed by the word element.

47      That finding is not called into question by the applicant’s other arguments.

48      First, the applicant relies on a minimum degree of distinctive character of the contested mark, which has been confirmed on several occasions, in particular in paragraphs 67 and 68 of the judgment of 13 October 2021, *Frutaria* (T‑12/20, not published, EU:T:2021:702).

49      It must be stated that the judgment of 13 October 2021, *Frutaria* (T‑12/20, not published, EU:T:2021:702), to which the applicant refers, was delivered in the context of revocation proceedings in respect of the contested mark.

50      Consequently, contrary to what the applicant claimed at the hearing, the considerations set out in that judgment cannot be transposed to the present dispute concerning invalidity proceedings. As the Board of Appeal noted, in essence, in paragraph 73 of the contested decision, the distinctive character of a trade mark can only be called into question in the context of an application for a declaration of invalidity under Article 51 of Regulation No 40/94 (see, to that effect, judgment of 29 April 2015, *Hostel Tourist World* v *OHIM – WRI Nominees (HostelTouristWorld.com)*, T‑566/13, not published, EU:T:2015:239, paragraph 35 and the case-law cited). In the context of revocation proceedings, such as those at issue in the judgment of 13 October 2021, *Frutaria* (T‑12/20, not published, EU:T:2021:702), while it is necessary, as the case may be, to take into account, as the Court did in that judgment, the greater or lesser degree of distinctive character of the mark at issue, that mark cannot, by virtue of its having been registered and unless its validity is called into question, be found to be devoid of any distinctive character (see, to that effect, judgment of 26 July 2023, *Apart* v *EUIPO – S. Tous (Representation of the outline of a bear)*, T‑638/21, not published, EU:T:2023:434, paragraph 79).

51      Second, as regards the applicant’s argument that the Board of Appeal did not assess the contested mark as a whole, it must be noted that it is apparent from paragraphs 58, 64 and 66 of the contested decision that the Board of Appeal did assess the descriptive character of the contested mark, taken as a whole. In essence, the Board of Appeal found that, given their position around the word ‘frutaria’, the figurative elements of the contested mark, namely the semicircle, the green square and the wavy line, together with the simple stylisation of that word element, emphasised the descriptive message conveyed by that element. Thus, in accordance with the case-law referred to in paragraph 40 above, the Board of Appeal examined whether the figurative elements and the stylisation of the word element could change the relevant public’s perception of the contested mark as a whole, resulting from the descriptive character of the word element, but found that they did not do so in the present case, since those figurative elements and that stylisation instead emphasised the descriptive character of that word element.

52      Third, even if it were to be accepted, as the applicant maintains, that the figurative elements do not evoke the goods concerned, the fact remains that, from the point of view of the relevant public, those elements do not change the meaning of the contested mark as a whole in relation to those goods. The same applies to the applicant’s submission that the presence of the wavy line is not random.

53      Fourth, as regards the references to the EUIPO guidelines relating to trade marks and designs, it should be noted, as EUIPO has argued, that those guidelines are not binding legal acts for the purpose of interpreting provisions of EU law (judgment of 19 December 2012, *Leno Merken*, C‑149/11, EU:C:2012:816, paragraph 48). Whether the registration of a sign as an EU trade mark is lawful is not to be assessed by reference to those guidelines, but by reference to the provisions of Regulation No 40/94 as interpreted by the EU judicature (see judgment of 1 June 2016, *Grupo Bimbo* v *EUIPO (Shape of a bar with four circles)*, T‑240/15, not published, EU:T:2016:327, paragraph 58 and the case-law cited).

54      Fifth, in so far as the applicant relies on previous decisions of EUIPO, it is sufficient to note the following.

55      In its review of legality, the Court is not bound by EUIPO’s decision-making practice (judgments of 26 April 2007, *Alcon* v *OHIM*, C‑412/05 P, EU:C:2007:252, paragraph 65, and of 22 April 2008, *Casa Editorial el Tiempo* v *OHIM – Instituto Nacional de Meteorología (EL TIEMPO)*, T‑233/06, not published, EU:T:2008:121, paragraph 48).

56      Decisions concerning the registration of a sign as an EU trade mark which EUIPO takes under Regulation No 40/94 are adopted in the exercise of circumscribed powers and are not a matter of discretion. Accordingly, the legality of decisions of the Boards of Appeal must be assessed solely on the basis of that regulation, as interpreted by the EU judicature, and not on the basis of a previous administrative practice (judgment of 26 April 2007, *Alcon* v *OHIM*, C‑412/05 P, EU:C:2007:252, paragraph 65).

57      EUIPO is under a duty to exercise its powers in accordance with the general principles of EU law, including the principles of equal treatment and of sound administration (judgment of 10 March 2011, *Agencja Wydawnicza Technopol* v *OHIM*, C‑51/10 P, EU:C:2011:139, paragraph 73). In the light of those principles, EUIPO must take into account the decisions it has already taken in respect of similar applications and consider with especial care whether it should decide in the same way or not. Those principles must be applied in a way that is consistent with respect for the principle of legality (judgment of 10 March 2011, *Agencja Wydawnicza Technopol* v *OHIM*, C‑51/10 P, EU:C:2011:139, paragraphs 74 and 75).

58      Consequently, a person who supports the retention of a sign as an EU trade mark cannot rely, to his or her advantage and in order to secure an identical decision, on a possibly unlawful act committed for the benefit of someone else. Moreover, for reasons of legal certainty and, indeed, of sound administration, the examination of any application for a declaration of invalidity must be stringent and full, in order to prevent trade marks from being improperly retained. That examination must be undertaken in each individual case. The retention of a sign as an EU trade mark depends on specific criteria, which are applicable in the factual circumstances of the particular case and the purpose of which is to ascertain whether the sign at issue is caught by a ground for invalidity (see, to that effect, judgments of 10 March 2011, *Agencja Wydawnicza Technopol* v *OHIM*, C‑51/10 P, EU:C:2011:139, paragraphs 76 and 77, and of 20 January 2015, *Aic* v *OHIM – ACV Manufacturing (Heat exchanger inserts)*, T‑617/13, not published, EU:T:2015:32, paragraph 32 and the case-law cited).

59      In the present case, in the application, the applicant referred to several previous decisions of EUIPO, both from the Boards of Appeal and from the lower adjudicating bodies. As regards, first, the previous decisions of the Boards of Appeal of EUIPO which the applicant had already relied on at the stage of the appeal, it should be recalled that, in paragraphs 75 and 76 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal set out the reasons why it considered that the present case differed from those previous decisions. The applicant does not put forward any new argument which might invalidate the Board of Appeal’s assessment. As regards, second, another previous decision of a Board of Appeal and several previous decisions of the Cancellation Division, unlike the marks at issue in those cases and contrary to what the applicant alleges, the figurative elements and the stylisation of the contested mark in the present case are simple, ordinary and not very stylised (see paragraphs 44 and 45 above).

60      In any event, as is apparent from paragraphs 25 to 46 above, the Board of Appeal was fully entitled to find that the contested mark was caught by the ground for refusal laid down in Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94, with the result that the applicant cannot usefully rely on EUIPO’s previous decisions in order to invalidate that finding.

*The relationship between the contested mark and the goods concerned*

61      On account of the descriptive character of the word element of the contested mark ‘frutaria’ in respect of the goods concerned (see paragraph 42 above) for the Portuguese-speaking part of the relevant public, and the fact that the figurative elements are not such as to distract the attention of that public from the descriptive meaning of that word element in respect of those goods (see paragraphs 44 to 60 above), the relationship between that mark, taken as a whole, and the goods concerned is sufficiently direct and specific to enable the relevant public immediately to perceive, without further thought, a description of those goods or of one of their characteristics.

62      Accordingly, the contested mark has descriptive character for the purposes of Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94 (see paragraphs 25 and 42 above).

63      It follows from all of the foregoing considerations that all of the applicant’s arguments are unfounded and that, therefore, the first plea in law must be rejected.

***The second plea in law, alleging infringement of** **Article 51****(1)(a) of Regulation** **No 4****0/94, read in conjunction with** **Article 7****(1)(b) of that regulation***

64      The applicant claims, in essence, that the contested mark is not devoid of any distinctive character. The applicant complains that the Board of Appeal denied the contested mark a minimum degree of distinctive character in respect of the goods concerned. It also claims that the inherent distinctive character of the contested mark has been acknowledged several times during various opposition and revocation proceedings. According to the applicant, the contested mark is distinctive since it enables the relevant public to identify the commercial origin of the goods concerned and to distinguish them from those of other undertakings.

65      EUIPO and the intervener dispute the applicant’s arguments.

66      It is apparent from Article 7(1) of Regulation No 40/94 that it is sufficient that one of the absolute grounds for refusal listed in that provision applies for the sign to be ineligible for registration as an EU trade mark or, if it has been registered, for the EU trade mark to be declared invalid pursuant to Article 51(1) of that regulation (order of 21 April 2016, *ultra air* v *EUIPO*, C‑232/15 P, not published, EU:C:2016:299, paragraph 57). Accordingly, there is no need to examine the merits of the second plea in law relied on by the applicant, alleging infringement of Article 7(1)(b) of that regulation.

***The third plea in law, alleging infringement of** **Article 51****(2) of Regulation** **No 4****0/94, read in conjunction with** **Article 7****(3) of that regulation***

67      The applicant argues, in essence, that the Board of Appeal incorrectly found, in the contested decision, that the contested mark had not acquired distinctive character through use. According to the applicant, the Board of Appeal did not examine the evidence as a whole. The applicant complains that the Board of Appeal incorrectly denied the probative value of the statement by the Head of the applicant’s Administration Department in which he states that the contested mark has been in widespread use worldwide for many years in the sale of fruit, generating significant turnover. With regard to how geographically widespread use has been, the applicant submits that the invoices show that goods bearing the contested mark were delivered throughout Portugal. The applicant claims that, since the clients are resellers, the extent of use cannot be called into question. The applicant maintains that long-standing use of the contested mark is demonstrated by the information relating to turnover and by the statements from the Frutaria group and from resellers. The applicant submits that the relevant public consists of the general public and of professionals. Thus, according to the applicant, the Board of Appeal incorrectly required the production of invoices addressed to end consumers, whereas it would be unusual for invoices to be issued in such cases and it would be unlikely to obtain such invoices from the companies delivering the goods concerned.

68      The applicant also argues that statements from third-party companies confirm that the contested mark is perceived as an indication of commercial origin in the territory of Portugal, meaning that the Board of Appeal should have taken those statements into consideration. According to the applicant, those statements show that, first, when seeing the contested mark, the relevant public recognises the commercial origin of the goods concerned, second, consumers in Portugal would encounter that mark when purchasing fruits and, third, that mark features on packaging shown to the public. The applicant alleges that the Board of Appeal contradicted itself in criticising the lack of invoices addressed to the general public or to Portuguese supermarket chains. As regards the evidence consisting of brochures showing that the applicant was present at the ‘Fruit Attraction’ international trade fair, at which the contested mark was displayed, the applicant submits that the Board of Appeal could not disregard the fact that the relevant public included not only the general public but also professionals. The applicant further states, in essence, that the evidence shows that part of the relevant public, namely professional resellers offering the goods concerned to end consumers, was exposed to the contested mark. According to the applicant, the investment which it made to take part in such a trade fair, where that mark was displayed, confirms that that mark is perceived by the relevant public as an indication of commercial origin.

69      EUIPO and the intervener dispute the applicant’s arguments.

70      Under Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94, where an EU trade mark has been registered in breach of the provisions of Article 7(1)(b), (c) or (d), it may nevertheless not be declared invalid if, in consequence of the use which has been made of it, it has after registration acquired a distinctive character in relation to the goods or services for which it is registered.

71      Thus, Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94 covers marks whose registration was contrary to Article 7(1)(b), (c) or (d) of that regulation and which, in the absence of such a provision, would have been declared invalid pursuant to Article 51(1) of that regulation. The precise purpose of Article 51(2) is to maintain the registration of such of those marks which, because of the use that has been made of them, have in the meantime – that is to say, after their registration – acquired distinctive character for the goods or services for which they were registered, in spite of the fact that, when it took place, such registration was contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 40/94 (see judgment of 10 June 2020, *Louis Vuitton Malletier* v *EUIPO – Wisniewski (Representation of a chequerboard pattern)*, T‑105/19, not published, EU:T:2020:258, paragraph 60 and the case-law cited).

72      Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94 and Article 7(3) of that regulation are governed by the same logic and must be interpreted in the same way, in the light of the same relevant factors (judgment of 28 June 2019, *Gibson Brands* v *EUIPO – Wilfer (Shape of a guitar body)*, T‑340/18, not published, EU:T:2019:455, paragraph 64).

73      According to the case-law, in order to determine whether a mark has acquired distinctive character through the use that has been made of it, in accordance with Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94, the competent authority must carry out an examination by reference to the actual situation and make an overall assessment of the evidence that the mark has come to identify the goods or services concerned as originating from a particular undertaking (see judgment of 19 June 2014, *Oberbank and Others*, C‑217/13 and C‑218/13, EU:C:2014:2012, paragraph 40 and the case-law cited).

74      In that regard, it must be recalled that the evidence submitted must make it possible to show that the mark has become such as to identify the goods concerned as originating from a particular undertaking, and accordingly to distinguish them from goods of other undertakings. In assessing the distinctive character of a mark in respect of which registration has been applied for, the following may also be taken into account: the market share held by the mark; how intensive, geographically widespread and long-standing use of the mark has been; the amount invested by the undertaking in promoting the mark; the proportion of the relevant class of persons who, because of the mark, identify goods as originating from a particular undertaking; and statements from chambers of commerce and industry or other trade and professional associations (see judgment of 6 March 2024, *Lidl Stiftung* v *EUIPO – MHCS (Shade of the colour orange)*, T‑652/22, not published, EU:T:2024:152, paragraph 99 and the case-law cited).

75      However, certain elements are considered to be of greater probative value than others. In particular, sales figures and advertising material can be regarded only as secondary evidence which may support, where relevant, direct evidence of distinctive character acquired through use, such as that provided by surveys or market studies as well as by statements from professional bodies or statements from the specialised public (see judgment of 6 March 2024, *Shade of the colour orange*, T‑652/22, not published, EU:T:2024:152, paragraph 100 and the case-law cited).

76      Moreover, it is apparent from the case-law that proof of distinctive character acquired through use cannot be furnished by the mere production of sales volumes and advertising material. Likewise, the mere fact that the sign has been used in the European Union for some time is also not sufficient to show that the public targeted by the goods in question perceives it as an indication of commercial origin (see judgment of 6 March 2024, *Shade of the colour orange*, T‑652/22, not published, EU:T:2024:152, paragraph 101 and the case-law cited).

77      It follows that direct evidence is necessary in order to demonstrate that a mark has acquired distinctive character through use (judgment of 6 March 2024, *Shade of the colour orange*, T‑652/22, not published, EU:T:2024:152, paragraph 102).

78      Furthermore, for a mark to have acquired distinctive character through use, it is necessary that at least a significant proportion of the relevant public identifies the goods or services concerned as originating from a particular undertaking because of the mark (see judgment of 15 December 2005, *BIC* v *OHIM (Shape of a lighter)*, T‑262/04, EU:T:2005:463, paragraph 61 and the case-law cited; see also, by analogy, judgment of 4 May 1999, *Windsurfing Chiemsee*, C‑108/97 and C‑109/97, EU:C:1999:230, paragraph 52).

79      In order to determine whether the grounds for refusal laid down in Article 7(1)(b) to (d) of Regulation No 40/94 must be excluded on account of the acquisition of distinctive character through use, the only relevant situation is as exists in the part of the territory of the European Union where the grounds for refusal have been established (see judgment of 14 December 2022, *Devin* v *EUIPO – Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DEVIN)*, T‑526/20, not published, EU:T:2022:816, paragraph 137 and the case-law cited).

80      The distinctive character of a mark, including that acquired through use, must be assessed in relation to the goods or services in respect of which registration of the mark is sought and in the light of the perception which the relevant public has of the mark (see, to that effect, judgment of 5 March 2003, *Alcon* v *OHIM – Dr. Robert Winzer Pharma (BSS)*, T‑237/01, EU:T:2003:54, paragraph 51 and the case-law cited).

81      In paragraphs 92 and 93 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal recalled that it was necessary to assess whether, in the territory in which it had considered the contested mark to be descriptive of the goods concerned, namely Portugal, that mark had acquired, through the use that has been made of it, distinctive character either on the date on which the application for registration of the contested mark was filed, namely 22 May 2007, or on the date on which the application for a declaration of invalidity was filed, namely 24 February 2022. That approach is not disputed by the applicant.

82      In the first place, as is apparent from paragraphs 30 to 32 above, the goods concerned are intended for the general public and professionals. Thus, as the applicant argues, the Board of Appeal should have considered that the existence of distinctive character acquired through use had to be demonstrated with regard to the Portuguese-speaking part of the relevant public consisting not only of the general public, but also of professionals.

83      In the second place, as is apparent from paragraph 5 of the contested decision, the applicant submitted a body of evidence during the administrative proceedings before EUIPO for the purpose of establishing that the contested mark had acquired distinctive character, namely, inter alia:

–        a statement by the Head of the applicant’s Administration Department attesting to the use of the contested mark worldwide for many years in the sale of fruit, generating significant turnover;

–        statements signed by two Portuguese third-party companies claiming that, to their knowledge, the contested mark is perceived as an indication of commercial origin by at least a significant proportion of the relevant public, given its long-standing use and the presence of that mark on the packaging of the goods concerned, on invoices, and on documents and communications of a commercial nature;

–        invoices bearing the contested mark, sent to Portuguese customers during the period from 2001 to 2022;

–        brochures demonstrating that the applicant was present, for the period from 2009 to 2022, at the ‘Fruit Attraction’ international trade fair, at which the contested mark was displayed;

–        a statement by the Director of the ‘Fruit Attraction’ international trade fair dated 30 May 2022, stating that the contested mark was used to promote fresh fruits at that fair.

84      In paragraphs 102 and 103 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal, in essence, acknowledged that certain items of evidence, namely the statement by the Head of the applicant’s Administration Department and the sales invoices supporting that statement, demonstrated the extent of use of the contested mark within the European Union and, in particular, Portugal.

85      However, in paragraphs 102, 104 to 106, 108 and 109 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal noted that the evidence, taken as a whole, did not relate to the relevant public’s perception of the contested mark. In particular, it found that the applicant had not demonstrated that at least a significant proportion of that public identified the origin of the goods concerned. In paragraph 110 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal further stated that the applicant had not submitted any evidence relating to the market share held by the contested mark, any figures on the amount invested in promoting that mark, or any statements from chambers of commerce and industry or other trade and professional associations showing that that mark has enhanced distinctive character in Portugal. Thus, failing any direct evidence of acquired distinctive character with regard to the relevant Portuguese public, the Board of Appeal found, in paragraphs 111 and 112 of the contested decision, that the contested mark had not acquired distinctive character through use in respect of the goods concerned for the purposes of Article 51(2) of Regulation No 40/94, read in conjunction with Article 7(3) of that regulation.

86      On the one hand, with regard to the direct evidence, it must be stated that the applicant has not in fact provided surveys, market studies, statements from trade and professional associations or statements from chambers of commerce and industry, relating to the Portuguese-speaking part of the relevant public’s perception of the contested mark, within the meaning of the case-law referred to in paragraphs 73 to 77 above.

87      While, by contrast, the applicant has produced statements from third-party companies, they are insufficient to demonstrate that the relevant public perceives the contested mark as an indication of commercial origin. Those statements therefore do not lead to the conclusion that that mark has acquired distinctive character through use.

88      Although they mention the relevant public’s perception of the contested mark, those statements merely attest to the fact that that mark appeared on invoices, documents and communications of a commercial nature and the packaging of the goods concerned, to the fact that, according to those companies, that mark has been used to identify the goods concerned in trade even before the date on which the application for invalidity was filed, and, last, to the fact that, according to those companies, the function of identifying the commercial origin of those goods fulfilled by that mark had never been called into question on the Portuguese market. However, those statements are general in nature and are not supported by direct evidence.

89      Moreover, the content of the statements from third-party companies is almost identical. Those statements differ only in the identification of the companies in question and in the identification of the Portuguese supermarket chains that resell the goods concerned bearing the contested mark on their packaging. On account of their nearly identical content, those statements cannot be regarded as complementary.

90      Therefore, in the light of their content, the statements from third-party companies are capable only of corroborating, where necessary, further items of evidence.

91      On the other hand, with regard to the indirect evidence provided by the applicant, the following should be noted.

92      First, contrary to what the applicant claims, the Board of Appeal did not dismiss the probative value of the statement by the Head of the applicant’s Administration Department. It must be stated that, in paragraphs 96 to 101 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal found that, although that statement could not be ignored in itself, its probative value was nevertheless low on account of the fact that it had been drawn up in the interest of its author. In paragraph 102 of the contested decision, that Board of Appeal also expressly acknowledged that the information contained in that statement demonstrated the extent of the use within the European Union, in particular in Portugal. Thus, the Board of Appeal did not deny that that statement had any probative value.

93      In any event, it follows from the case-law that probative value can be given to a statement, within the meaning of Article 76(1)(f) of Regulation No 40/94, made by one of the employees of the party relying on that statement only if it is supported by further evidence (judgment of 7 June 2005, *Lidl Stiftung* v *OHIM – REWE-Zentral (Salvita)*, T‑303/03, EU:T:2005:200, paragraph 43; see also judgment of 7 September 2022, *6Minutes Media* v *EUIPO – ad pepper media International (ad pepper the e-advertising network)*, T‑521/21, not published, EU:T:2022:520, paragraph 100 and the case-law cited). Therefore, in paragraph 101 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal correctly required further evidence to corroborate the turnover figures in that statement, such as reliable accounting documents containing additional details concerning, in particular, the goods or services to which those turnover figures related.

94      Second, with regard to the invoices produced, it is true that invoices addressed to professionals may indicate that that part of the relevant public has been exposed to the contested mark. However, contrary to what the applicant maintains and as is apparent from the case-law referred to in paragraph 76 above, proof of distinctive character acquired through use cannot be furnished by the mere production of sales volumes of the goods concerned marketed under that mark.

95      Likewise, the mere fact that the contested mark has been used in the European Union for some time is also not sufficient to show that the relevant public perceives that mark as an indication of commercial origin. Consequently, even if it were apparent from the evidence produced by the applicant that the goods concerned bearing the contested mark have been marketed for more than 20 years, that fact would be insufficient in itself, but also in conjunction with the further evidence produced, to find that the relevant public would actually perceive those goods as originating from a particular undertaking.

96      Furthermore, the applicant’s argument, by which it complains that the Board of Appeal required the production of invoices addressed to end consumers, whereas it would be unusual for invoices to be issued in such cases and it would be unlikely to obtain such invoices from the companies delivering the goods concerned, is based on an incorrect reading of the contested decision. In paragraph 105 of the contested decision, the Board of Appeal in fact stated that the invoices produced by the applicant, addressed to Portuguese undertakings, did not provide sufficient information to demonstrate that a significant proportion of the relevant public perceived the contested mark as an indication of the commercial origin of the goods concerned. That Board of Appeal correctly required the production of evidence demonstrating that at least a significant proportion of the relevant public identified the goods concerned as originating from a particular undertaking because of the contested mark.

97      As regards the applicant’s argument that the Board of Appeal could not require it to produce invoices addressed to Portuguese supermarket chains, without the contested decision being vitiated by contradictions, it should be noted, as the Board of Appeal noted, that the submission of a significant number of those invoices could have indicated that the general public has been exposed to the contested mark.

98      Therefore, as the Board of Appeal correctly found in the contested decision, the invoices provided by the applicant are not capable of demonstrating that at least a significant proportion of the relevant public identified the goods concerned as originating from a particular undertaking.

99      Third, as regards the brochures demonstrating that the applicant was present at the ‘Fruit Attraction’ international trade fair, at which the contested mark was displayed, and the statement of the Director of that fair, even if it were accepted that that evidence could indicate that a proportion of the relevant public has been exposed to the contested mark, the fact remains that that evidence is indirect and does not relate to the relevant public’s perception of the contested mark. That evidence is therefore not capable of demonstrating that a significant proportion of the relevant public perceives the mark as an indication of the commercial origin of the goods concerned.

100    Furthermore, the applicant itself admits that the Director of the ‘Fruit Attraction’ international trade fair is not in a position to comment on the perception of the contested mark by the Portuguese-speaking part of the visitors to that fair.

101    Fourth, contrary to what the applicant claims, the Board of Appeal, after examining the items of evidence separately in paragraphs 96 to 108 of the contested decision, assessed the evidence as a whole. That Board of Appeal, in paragraph 111 of the contested decision, found that the evidence produced by the applicant, taken as a whole, did not enable it to determine the market share held by the contested mark, how intensive, geographically widespread and long-standing use of that mark has been, the amount invested by the applicant in promoting the mark and the proportion of the relevant class of persons who, because of that mark, identified the goods concerned as originating from the applicant.

102    Since all of the applicant’s arguments must therefore be rejected, the third plea in law must be rejected and, accordingly, the action must be dismissed in its entirety.

**Costs**

103    Under Article 134(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court, the unsuccessful party is to be ordered to pay the costs if they have been applied for in the successful party’s pleadings.

104    Since a hearing has taken place and the applicant has been unsuccessful, it must be ordered to pay the costs, in accordance with the forms of order sought by EUIPO and the intervener.

On those grounds,

THE GENERAL COURT (Sixth Chamber)

hereby:

1.      **Dismisses the action;**

2.      **Orders Frutaria Innovation SL to pay the costs.**

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Costeira | Öberg | Tichy-Fisslberger |

Delivered in open court in Luxembourg on 15 October 2025.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| V. Di Bucci |  | M. van der Woude |

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Registrar |  | President |

---

[\*](#Footref*)      Language of the case: English.

[Top](#document1)