Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 31 January 2024 –  
IU Internationale Hochschule v EUIPO (IU International University of Applied Sciences)

(Case T‑188/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0188_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark IU International University of Applied Sciences – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 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, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 14, 15) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute 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 7(1) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraph 16) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 25-28) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark IU International University of Applied Sciences  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 31, 37, 38, 45) |

| 5. | 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 paragraph 41) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH to bear its own costs; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0188_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 189, 30.5.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:189:TOC).

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