Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 14 July 2017 —  
Sata v EUIPO (4600)

(Case T‑214/16)

(EU trade mark — Sign composed exclusively of numerals — Application for an EU word mark 4600 — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 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 — Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 24, 27, 28) |

| 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 — Sign composed exclusively of numerals  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 25, 26) |

| 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 — Word mark 4600  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 30-33, 40, 42, 51) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Overlap between the scope of the grounds for refusal set out in subparagraphs (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. 45) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (see paras 49, 50) |

| 6. | 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 55-57, 59, 62, 64, 72) |

| 7. | 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 para. 58) |

| 8. | 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 — Perception of the sign by the relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 68) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 24 February 2016 (Case R 1942/2015-4) concerning an application for registration of the word sign 4600 as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Sata GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

[Top](#document1)