Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 13 September 2016 —

Paglieri Sell System v EUIPO (APOTEKE)

(Case T‑563/15)

‛European Union trade mark — Application for figurative mark APOTEKE — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Obligation to state reasons — Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009’

| 1. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU — Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning — Lawfulness — Conditions (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence) (see paras 14, 17) |

| 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 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), and 75, first sentence) (see paras 15, 16) |

| 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 — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 25, 26) |

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 27) |

| 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 — Figurative mark APOTEKE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 28, 30, 36, 38, 39, 44-55, 58) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case (see paras 59-61) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 July 2015 (Case R 2428/2014-5) concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign APOTEKE as a European Union trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Paglieri Sell Systems SpA to pay the costs. |

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