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Document 62021TJ0003

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 6 October 2021.
Power Horse Energy Drinks GmbH v European Union Intellectual Property Office.
EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark UNSTOPPABLE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001).
Case T-3/21.

ECLI identifier: ECLI:EU:T:2021:659

 Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 6 October 2021 –
Power Horse Energy Drinks v EUIPO – Robot Energy Europe (UNSTOPPABLE)

(Case T‑3/21)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark UNSTOPPABLE – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001))

1. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 18-20)

2. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 21, 22)

3. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Laudatory promotional formula

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))

(see para. 23)

4. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))

(see para. 24)

5. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark UNSTOPPABLE

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(b), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 27, 28, 36, 42, 44)

6. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 50, 61)

7. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see para. 51)

8. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark UNSTOPPABLE

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 57, 58, 64, 65)

9. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 62, 63)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 October 2020 (Case R 232/2020-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Power Horse Energy Drinks and Robot Energy Europe.

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Power Horse Energy Drinks GmbH to pay the costs.
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