Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 2 April 2020 –  
SQlab v EUIPO (Innerbarend)

(Case T‑307/19)

(Action for annulment — EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark Innerbarend — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

| 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. 13) |

| 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 — Definition  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 14, 15) |

| 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 paras 16-18, 24, 27, 31) |

| 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 — Word mark Innerbarend  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 28, 29, 34, 37, 40) |

| 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 — Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 32) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 33) |

| 7. | 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 — Definition — Sign that is descriptive of a characteristic of a component in a product — Included  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 36) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 March 2019 (Case R 2180/2018-4) relating to an application for registration of the word sign Innerbarend as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

| 1. | The action is dismissed. |

| 2. | SQlab GmbH shall pay the costs. |

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