1. 

EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Article 94(1), first sentence, of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions

(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)

(see paragraphs 19, 20, 64)

2. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability

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

(see paragraph 29)

3. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Definition – Mark consisting of a word or neologism produced by a combination of elements

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

(see paragraphs 30-33)

4. 

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 invalidity – Date of filing of the application for registration – Taking into consideration of evidence subsequent to that date – Whether permissible – Condition

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

(see paragraph 34)

5. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark DECOTEC

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

(see paragraphs 41, 44-46, 50, 54, 57, 61, 68)

6. 

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

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

(see paragraph 73)

7. 

EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7, 59(1)(a) and 62)

(see paragraph 74)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders celotec GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.