Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 12 June 2019 –  
Biedermann Technologies v EUIPO (Compliant Constructs)

(Case T‑291/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark Compliant Constructs — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 14) |

| 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 — Meaning  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 15, 17, 18) |

| 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 16, 50, 56) |

| 4. | 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 Compliant Constructs  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see paras 42, 52, 57, 62-64, 68, 69, 78, 81, 82) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate consideration of the pleas in law having regard to every one of the products or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1) and 94(1), first sentence)  (see paras 58-61) |

| 6. | 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 composed of elements describing characteristics of the goods or services concerned — Whether included where the nature of the combination is not unusual  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))  (see para. 80) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Decisions of EUIPO — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paras 83-85) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))  (see paras 89, 90) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 March 2018 (Case R 1626/2017-4) relating to an application for registration of the word sign Compliant Constructs as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

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

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