Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 30 March 2022 –  
Établissement Amra v EUIPO – eXpresio, estudio creativo (Shape of a rebound shoe)

(Case T‑264/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0264_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU three-dimensional mark – Shape of a rebound shoe – Absolute ground for refusal – Sign consisting exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Presence of word elements – Lack of essential non-functional characteristics)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Interpretation in the light of the public interest underlying each of them  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paras 28-30) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Existence of other shapes allowing the same technical result to be obtained – Not relevant to the ground for refusal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paras 31, 32) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Identification of the essential characteristics of a three-dimensional sign – Distinctive character of the elements of a sign – Irrelevant  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paras 33-35, 42-44, 51) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Assessment of the essential characteristics in the light of the technical function of the goods  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paras 36, 37) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Perception of the average consumer – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paras 40, 41) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of a rebound shoe  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see paras 45, 50, 52, 59-66) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 15 March 2021 (Case R 1083/2020-1); |

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

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0264_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 263, 5.7.2021.](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:263:TOC)

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