Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 May 2019 –  
VI.TO. v EUIPO — Bottega (Shape of a golden bottle)

(Case T‑324/18)

(
EU trade mark
 — 
Invalidity proceedings
 — 
Three-dimensional EU trade mark
 — 
Shape of a golden bottle
 — 
Absolute grounds for refusal
 — 
Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
 — 
Distinctive character
 — 
Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation 2017/1001)
)

| 1. | Acts of the institutions — Temporal application — Retrospective effect of a substantive rule — Conditions  (see para. 16) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity — Date of lodging the application for registration  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1))  (see para. 17) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of the EUIPO’s own motion — Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal — Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 76(1))  (see para. 26) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) and (e), of Regulation No 207/2009 — Three-dimensional mark in the shape of a golden bottle  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b) and (e))  (see paras 28-38, 44-48, 53) |

| 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 — Meaning  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii))  (see para. 54) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 March 2018 (Case R 1036/2017-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between VI.TO. and Mr Bottega.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Vinicola Tombacco (VI.TO.) Srl to pay the costs. |

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