Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 27 June 2017 — Flamagas v EUIPO — MatMind (CLIPPER)

(Case T‑580/15)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a lighter with a lateral fin, featuring the word element CLIPPER — Shape necessary to obtain a technical result — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (e)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — No description of the mark in the application for registration)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result — Concept — Interpretation in the light of the public interest underlying each of them  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 21-23) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result — Concept — Existence of other shapes allowing the same technical result to be obtained — Not relevant to the ground for refusal  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 24, 59) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result — Identification of the essential characteristics of a three-dimensional sign  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 25-27) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Shape of a lighter with a lateral fin, featuring the word element CLIPPER  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 37-40, 49, 51-53, 61) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 68-70) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Exception — Distinctive character acquired through use — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and (3), and 52(2))  (see para. 83) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 30 July 2015 (Case R 924/2013-1) relating to invalidity proceedings between MatMind and Flamagas.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Flamagas, SA to pay the costs. |

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