Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 19 December 2019 –  
Amazon Technologies v EUIPO (ring)

(Case T‑270/19)

(EU trade mark — International registration designating the European Union — Figurative mark ring — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptiveness — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 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 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see para. 21) |

| 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 paras 22-26) |

| 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. 41) |

| 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 — Concept  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 42-44, 54) |

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 45) |

| 6. | 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 — Figurative mark ring  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 55, 56, 60-62) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 February 2019 (Case R 2211/2018-5), relating to the international registration designating the European Union in respect of the figurative mark ring.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Amazon Technologies, Inc. to pay the costs. |

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