Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 6 October 2021 –  
Power Horse Energy Drinks v EUIPO – Robot Energy Europe (UNSTOPPABLE)

(Case T‑3/21)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark UNSTOPPABLE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 18-20) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 21, 22) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Laudatory promotional formula  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 24) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark UNSTOPPABLE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 27, 28, 36, 42, 44) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 50, 61) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))  (see para. 51) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark UNSTOPPABLE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 57, 58, 64, 65) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 62, 63) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 October 2020 (Case R 232/2020-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Power Horse Energy Drinks and Robot Energy Europe.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Power Horse Energy Drinks GmbH to pay the costs. |

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