This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 62021TJ0196
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 9 March 2022.
Lea Nature Services v European Union Intellectual Property Office.
EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark SO …? – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001.
Case T-196/21.
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 9 March 2022.
Lea Nature Services v European Union Intellectual Property Office.
EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark SO …? – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001.
Case T-196/21.
Court reports – general
ECLI identifier: ECLI:EU:T:2022:117
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 9 March 2022 – Lea Nature Services v EUIPO – Debonair Trading Internacional (SO …?)
(Case T‑196/21) ( 1 )
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark SO …? – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001)
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1. |
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Definition – Criteria for assessment (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paras 21-23) |
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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 (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paras 24, 25) |
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EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark SO …? (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paras 32, 38, 44, 47, 51, 54, 55) |
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EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Trade mark made up of several elements – Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark – Need to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see para. 41) |
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EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001) (see paras 52, 53) |
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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 – Definition (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(c) and 59(1)(a)) (see para. 61) |
Operative part
The Court:
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Dismisses the action; |
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Orders Lea Nature Services to pay the costs. |
( 1 ) OJ C 217, 7.6.2021.