Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 25 February 2021 –  
Ultrasun v EUIPO (ULTRASUN)

(Case T‑437/20)

(Action for annulment – EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark ULTRASUN – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings – Decision taken by way of reasoned order – Possibility of ruling without an oral procedure – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 126)  (see para. 10) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods – Definition – Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 22, 39) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 24, 32) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods – Word mark ULTRASUN  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 25, 26, 33-35) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Art. 296, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 75)  (see para. 43) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 27 April 2020 (Case R 1453/2019-4), concerning an application for registration of the word sign ULTRASUN as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed. |

| 2. | Ultrasun AG shall pay the costs. |

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