This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 62018TJ0325
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 May 2019.
Vinicola Tombacco (VI.TO.) Srl v European Union Intellectual Property Office.
EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a pink bottle — Absolute grounds for refusal — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation 2017/1001).
Case T-325/18.
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 May 2019.
Vinicola Tombacco (VI.TO.) Srl v European Union Intellectual Property Office.
EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a pink bottle — Absolute grounds for refusal — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation 2017/1001).
Case T-325/18.
Court reports – general
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 May 2019 –
VI.TO. v EUIPO — Bottega (Shape of a pink bottle)
(Case T‑325/18)
(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Three-dimensional EU trade mark — Shape of a pink bottle — Absolute grounds for refusal — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(e)(i) to (iii) of Regulation 2017/1001))
1. |
Acts of the institutions — Temporal application — Retrospective effect of a substantive rule — Conditions (see para. 16) |
2. |
EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity — Date of lodging the application for registration (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)) (see para. 17) |
3. |
EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of the EUIPO’s own motion — Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal — Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 76(1)) (see para. 26) |
4. |
EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) and (e) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Three-dimensional EU trade mark in the shape of a pink bottle (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (e)) (see paras 28-38, 44-48, 53) |
5. |
EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result — Meaning (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(e)(ii)) (see para. 54) |
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 March 2018 (Case R 1037/2017-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between VI.TO. and Mr Bottega.
Operative part
The Court:
1. |
Dismisses the action; |
2. |
Orders Vinicola Tombacco (VI.TO.) Srl to pay the costs. |