Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 10 June 2020 –  
Louis Vuitton Malletier v EUIPO – Wisniewski (Device of a chequerboard pattern)

(Case T‑105/19)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark representing a chequerboard pattern – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Well-known facts – Distinctive character acquired through use – Overall assessment of the evidence of the distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(1)(b) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 59(1) and (2) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a))  (see para. 17) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7, 59, 62 and 95(1))  (see paras 21-25, 29, 30, 50) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Figurative mark representing a chequerboard pattern  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3) and 59(2))  (see paras 32-36, 41, 42, 79-81, 84, 85, 95) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision of a unit of the Office ruling at first instance and referred to the Board of Appeal – Functional continuity between those two bodies – Examination of the appeal by the Board of Appeal – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Art. 71(1))  (see para. 40) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3), and 59(1) and (2))  (see paras 60, 62-64) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Burden of proof  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3), and 59(1) and (2))  (see para. 61) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Scope – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the EU – Acquisition by use also throughout the EU  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3), and 59(2))  (see paras 65-67, 72) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Probative value of the evidence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3), and 59(2))  (see paras 68-71, 82, 83) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 November 2018 (Case R 274/2017-2) relating to invalidity proceedings between Mr Wisniewski and Louis Vuitton Malletier.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 22 November 2018 (Case R 274/2017-2); |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear the costs. |

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