1. 

EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Legality of the decision of a Board of Appeal – Account taken, for the purposes of applying EU law, of national legislation, case-law or academic writing – Whether permissible

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)

(see paragraph 22)

2. 

EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Not included

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)

(see paragraph 24)

3. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment

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

(see paragraphs 35-40)

4. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of a scooter

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

(see paragraphs 54, 56-60)

5. 

EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Presumption of validity of the registered mark – Obligation for EUIPO to examine the facts of its own motion – Limit

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 52, 55 and 76(1))

(see paragraphs 65-67)

6. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3) and 52(2))

(see paragraphs 78-82, 90, 96)

7. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Scope – Trade mark devoid of distinctive character throughout the European Union – Acquisition through use also throughout the European Union

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3) and 52(2))

(see paragraph 83)

8. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Probative value of the evidence

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3) and 52(2))

(see paragraphs 84-88, 98, 115, 116)

9. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of a scooter

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3) and 52(2))

(see paragraphs 105, 109, 113, 117-119)

1. 

Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 25 October 2021 (Case R 359/2021-5);

2. 

Orders EUIPO and Zhejiang Zhongneng Industry Group Co. Ltd to bear their own costs and to pay those incurred by Piaggio & C. SpA.