Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 9 September 2019 –  
Executive Selling v EUIPO (EXECUTIVE SELLING)

(Case T‑689/18)

(EU trade mark — International registration designating the European Union — Figurative mark EXECUTIVE SELLING — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptiveness — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | 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. 15) |

| 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 16, 18, 19) |

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 17) |

| 4. | 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, first sentence)  (see paras 20-22) |

| 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 composed of elements describing characteristics of the goods or services concerned — Whether included where the nature of the combination is not unusual  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 24, 25) |

| 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 EXECUTIVE SELLING  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 34, 44-46, 56) |

| 7. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paras 53-55) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 September 2018 (Case R 313/2018-1), concerning an international registration designating the European Union of figurative sign EXECUTIVE SELLING.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Executive Selling to bear the costs. |

[Top](#document1)