Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 28 March 2019 –  
Coesia v EUIPO (Representation of two oblique red curves)

(Case T‑829/17)

(EU trade mark — Application for an EU figurative mark representing two oblique red curves — Absolute ground for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Obligation to state reasons — Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — First sentence of Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)  (see para. 16) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Account taken by the General Court of matters of law and fact not previously raised before the departments of EUIPO — Precluded  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 24) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Meaning — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 27-29, 64) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark representing two oblique red curves  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 31-39, 45-59) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character –Meaning — Criteria for assessment — Recognition of the distinctiveness of the sign not subject to a finding of a certain level of creativity or linguistic or artistic imagination  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 42-44) |

| 6. | 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 68-71) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Assessment of the registrability of a sign — EU rules only taken into account — Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paras 81, 85, 86) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 29 September 2017 (Case R 1272/2017-5), regarding an application for registration of a figurative sign representing two oblique red curves as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Coesia SpA to pay the costs. |

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