Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 17 January 2017 — Netguru v EUIPO (NETGURU)

(Case T‑54/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark NETGURU — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Obligation to state reasons — Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights — Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Article 76(2) 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  (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)  (see paras 14, 15) |

| 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 16-18) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark NETGURU  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 24, 51, 63, 71) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Concept — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 44-46) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Marks constituted of advertising slogans — Distinctive character — Application of specific criteria for assessment — Not permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 47, 48) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Trade mark made up of several elements — Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark — Scope of protection of the mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see para. 53) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Marks constituted of advertising slogans — Flattering promotional formula  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 64-67) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Overlap in scope of the grounds under sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 7(1) of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 76) |

| 9. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal to a Board of Appeal — Competence of the Boards of Appeal — New full examination of the merits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 64(1))  (see para. 80) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 December 2015 (Case R 144/2015-5) concerning an application for registration of the word sign NETGURU as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Netguru sp. z o.o. to bear the costs. |

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