Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 20 December 2023 –  
Transport Werk v EUIPO – Haus & Grund Deutschland (Haus & Grund)

(Case T-779/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0779_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark Haus & Grund – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Descriptive character – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraph 30) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria – Perception of the trade mark by the relevant public – Level of attention of the public  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 31-35, 40) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark Haus & Grund  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 52, 53, 61, 65, 70, 71) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 67-69) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraph 79) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 26 October 2022 (Case R 84/2022-5) in so far as it dismissed the appeal against the decision of the Cancellation Division of 29 November 2021 relating to the EU word mark Haus & Grund as regards ‘data carriers; computer software for the buying, selling, administration, rental, construction and management of buildings, installations and facilities’ in Class 9, ‘real estate affairs; expert opinions in connection with insurance, financial affairs, real estate affairs and monetary affairs’ in Class 36, and ‘expert technical opinions; technical consultancy; creation of computer software for the buying, selling, rental, construction, administration and management of buildings, installations and equipment; creation of computer software to optimise the operation, cost-effectiveness, utilisation, marketing and value retention of property and equipment’ in Class 42 of the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |

| 3. | Orders each party to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0779_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 45, 6.2.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:045:TOC).

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