Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 13 June 2019 –  
Porus v EUIPO (oral Dialysis)

(Case T‑652/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark oral Dialysis — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 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. 14) |

| 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 — Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 15, 16, 23) |

| 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. 17) |

| 4. | 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 — Word mark oral Dialysis  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 24, 27, 36) |

| 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 — Assessment of registrability by EUIPO — Production of evidence — Not required  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 30) |

| 6. | 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 Articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 2017/1001  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 39, 40) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 September 2018 (Case R 1375/2018-2), concerning an application for registration of the word sign oral Dialysis as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

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

[Top](#document1)