Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 16 June 2021 –  
Rezon v EUIPO (imot.bg)

(Case T‑487/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU figurative mark imot.bg – Absolute grounds for refusal – Lack of distinctiveness – Descriptiveness – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Partial confirmatory decision)

| 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 38) |

| 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 – Meaning  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 39) |

| 3. | 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 para. 40) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 41) |

| 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 – Figurative mark imot.bg  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 42, 43, 45-48) |

| 6. | 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  (Art. 296 TFEU; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 50) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Examination of the grounds for refusal having regard to each of the products or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paras 51, 52) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 60) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 June 2020 (Case R 2270/2019-1), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign imot.bg as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Rezon OOD to pay the costs. |

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