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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.

    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.

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