Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 15 March 2023 –  
FA World Entertainment v EUIPO (FUCKING AWESOME)

(Case T‑178/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0178_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark FUCKING AWESOME – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Legal certainty – Equal treatment – Principle of sound administration)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 17, 18) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark FUCKING AWESOME  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 27, 33, 34, 41, 53, 67) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraph 32) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 46, 48, 49) |

| 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 – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 71) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 73) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 74, 75) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders FA World Entertainment Inc. to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0178_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 207, 23.5.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:207:TOC).

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