Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 31 May 2021 –  
König Ludwig International v EUIPO (Royal Bavarian Beer)

(Case T‑332/20)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark Royal Bavarian Beer – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Right to be heard – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Unitary character of the EU trade mark – Article 1(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Observance of the rights of the defence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1))  (see paras 20, 23) |

| 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 – Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 33, 35, 36) |

| 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 34) |

| 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 – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 37, 47, 52) |

| 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 – Word mark Royal Bavarian Beer  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 46, 58, 59) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – The Office’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paras 54, 56, 57) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 65) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 1 April 2020 (Case R 1714/2019-4), relating to the international registration designating the European Union in respect of the word mark Royal Bavarian Beer.

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed as manifestly lacking any foundation in law. |

| 2. | König Ludwig International GmbH & Co. KG shall pay the costs. |

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