Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 May 2019 –
Battelle Memorial Institute v EUIPO (HEATCOAT)

(Case T‑469/18)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark HEATCOAT — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptiveness — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Equal treatment — Principle of sound administration)

1. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Aim — Need to preserve availability

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see para. 18)

2. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Meaning

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see para. 19)

3. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — 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

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see paras 20, 29)

4. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Word mark HEATCOAT

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see paras 22-24, 30, 36)

5. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Refusal to register based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 — Whether sufficient

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))

(see para. 44)

6. 

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 2017/1001)

(see paras 48-50)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 May 2018 (Case R 36/2018-2), relating to an application for registration of the word sign HEATCOAT as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Battelle Memorial Institute to pay the costs.