Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 19 October 2017 — Kuka Systems v EUIPO (MATRIX BODY SHOP)

(Case T‑683/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark MATRIX BODY SHOP — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, 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 — Meaning — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 15-19, 29, 44, 48) |

| 3. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paras 32, 34, 35) |

| 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 MATRIX BODY SHOP  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 53) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 75, first sentence)  (see para. 56) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 19 July 2016 (Case R 2503/2015-4), relating to an application for registration of the word sign MATRIX BODY SHOP as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Kuka Systems GmbH to pay the costs. |

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