CELEX: 62014TA0579
Language: en
Date: 2016-11-09 00:00:00
Title: Case T-579/14: Judgment of the General Court of 9 November 2016 — Birkenstock Sales v EUIPO (representing a pattern of wavy, crisscrossing lines) (EU trade mark — International registration designating the European Union — Figurative mark representing a pattern of wavy, crisscrossing lines — Absolute ground for refusal — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Surface pattern — Application of a pattern on the packaging of a product)

9.1.2017   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               C 6/33
            
         Judgment of the General Court of 9 November 2016 — Birkenstock Sales v EUIPO (representing a pattern of wavy, crisscrossing lines)
   (Case T-579/14) (1)
   
   ((EU trade mark - International registration designating the European Union - Figurative mark representing a pattern of wavy, crisscrossing lines - Absolute ground for refusal - Distinctive character - Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 - Surface pattern - Application of a pattern on the packaging of a product))
   (2017/C 006/39)
   Language of the case: German
   
      Parties
   
   
      Applicant: Birkenstock Sales GmbH (Vettelschoß, Germany) (represented by: C. Menebröcker and V. Töbelmann, lawyers)
   
      Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: initially G. Schneider and D. Walicka, and subsequently D. Walicka, acting as Agents)
   
      Re:
   
   Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 15 May 2014 (Case R 1952/2013-1), concerning the international registration designating the European Union of the figurative mark representing a pattern of wavy, crisscrossing lines.
   
      Operative part of the judgment
   
   The Court:
   
               1.
            
            
               Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 15 May 2014 (Case R 1952/2013-1) in so far as it concerns the following goods: ‘artificial limbs, eyes and teeth’, ‘suture materials; suture materials for operations’ and ‘animal skins, hides’;
            
         
               2.
            
            
               Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
            
         
               3.
            
            
               Orders Birkenstock Sales GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay half of those incurred by EUIPO, and EUIPO to bear half of its own costs.
            
         
      (1)  OJ C 351, 6.10.2014.