CELEX: 62014TA0590
Language: en
Date: 2016-05-12 00:00:00
Title: Case T-590/14: Judgment of the General Court of 12 May 2016 — Zuffa v EUIPO (ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP) (EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP — Absolute grounds for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Descriptiveness — Distinctive character acquired through use — Obligation to state reasons — Relevant public — Article 7(1)(b) and (c), (2) and (3) and Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

27.6.2016   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               C 232/11
            
         Judgment of the General Court of 12 May 2016 — Zuffa v EUIPO (ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP)
   (Case T-590/14) (1)
   
   ((EU trade mark - Application for the EU word mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP - Absolute grounds for refusal - Lack of distinctive character - Descriptiveness - Distinctive character acquired through use - Obligation to state reasons - Relevant public - Article 7(1)(b) and (c), (2) and (3) and Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009))
   (2016/C 232/13)
   Language of the case: English
   
      Parties
   
   
      Applicant: Zuffa, LLC (Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) (represented by: S. Malynicz, Barrister, and K. Gilbert and C. Balme, Solicitors)
   
      Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) (represented by: P. Bullock, acting as Agent)
   
      Re:
   
   Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 19 May 2014 (Case R 1425/2013-2), regarding an application for registration of the sign ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP as an EU trade mark.
   
      Operative part of the judgment
   
   The Court:
   
               1.
            
            
               Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 19 May 2014 (Case R 1425/2013-2) in so far as it dismisses the appeal of Zuffa, LLC as regards the following goods and services:
               
                           —
                        
                        
                           ‘pre-recorded audio cassettes; phonograph records; compact discs; pre-recorded video cassettes; laser video discs; digital video discs; digital versatile discs; electronic storage media; USB flashdrives; CD-ROM discs all featuring mixed martial arts competitions, events and programs; motion picture films in the field of mixed martial arts’ in Class 9;
                        
                     
                           —
                        
                        
                           ‘provision of information relating to mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks; providing news and information in the fields of sports, fitness and mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks’ in Class 41;
                        
                     
         
               2.
            
            
               Dismisses the present action as to the remainder;
            
         
               3.
            
            
               Orders Zuffa, LLC and EUIPO to bear their own costs.
            
         
      (1)  OJ C 351, 6.10.2014.