Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 14 December 2016 — Grid applications v EUIPO (APlan)

(Case T‑154/16)

(European Union trade mark — Application for EU word mark APlan — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive nature — Article 7(1)(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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 22) |

| 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 — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 23, 24, 31) |

| 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 APlan  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 28, 32, 36) |

| 4. | 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 38-40) |

| 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 — Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 42) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 15 February 2016 (Case R 1819/2015-4) concerning an application for registration of work sign APlan as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Grid applications GmbH to pay the costs. |

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