Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 23 October 2017 — Barmenia Krankenversicherung v EUIPO (Mediline)

(Case T‑810/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for registration of the EU word mark Mediline — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Article 7(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(2) of Regulation 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—Concept  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 17, 18) |

| 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—Word mark Mediline  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 19-31) |

| 3. | 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—Need to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paras 22-24) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark—Absolute grounds for refusal—Marks devoid of any distinctive character—Assessment of distinctive character—Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see para. 31) |

| 5. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see paras 33-35) |

| 6. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 37) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 08 September 2016 (Case R 2437/2015-1) concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign Mediline as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Barmenia Krankenversicherung AG to pay the costs. |

[Top](#document1)