Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 10 February 2021 –  
Bachmann v EUIPO (LICHTYOGA)

(Case T‑157/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark LICHTYOGA – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 25) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1) and 94(1))  (see paras 26-28, 68) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Application for registration of a sign for all the goods or services falling within the same category – Assessment of the descriptiveness of the sign concerning all the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 40-43) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Application for registration of a sign in respect of all goods falling within a single category – Assessment of the descriptiveness of the sign concerning all the goods  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 44) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods – Word mark LICHTYOGA  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 47, 56, 58, 66, 67, 69) |

| 6. | Community trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 70) |

| 7. | 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  (see paras 71-73) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 December 2019 (Case R 2317/2019-2), concerning an application for registration of the word sign LICHTYOGA as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Gabriele Bachmann to pay the costs. |

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