Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 9 March 2017 —  
Marsh v EUIPO (ClaimsExcellence)

(Case T‑308/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark ClaimsExcellence — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptiveness — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 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 — Concept — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 16, 18-21, 49) |

| 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 17) |

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 22, 24) |

| 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 ClaimsExcellence  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 25, 26, 37, 38, 42, 43, 46, 47, 49) |

| 5. | 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 — Trade mark made up of several elements — Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark — Scope of protection of the mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 35) |

| 6. | 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. 45) |

| 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 — Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries — Decisions not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 50) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 April 2016 (Case R 2358/2015-4), concerning an application for registration of the word sign ClaimsExcellence as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Marsh GmbH to pay the costs. |

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