Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 8 June 2022 –  
Medela v EUIPO (MAXFLOW)

(Case T‑744/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0744_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark MAXFLOW – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) 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 – 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 13, 14, 28, 32) |

| 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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 15, 31) |

| 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 – Word mark MAXFLOW  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paras 26, 29, 36, 39) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paras 40, 41) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 43) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Medela Holding AG to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0744_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 37, 24.1.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:037:TOC).

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