1. 

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

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

(see paragraphs 13, 21)

2. 

EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria

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

(see paragraphs 14, 25)

3. 

EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark exactcut

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

(see paragraphs 26-28)

4. 

EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Overlapping of the scope of the grounds set out under (b) and (c) of Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001

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

(see paragraph 29)

5. 

EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraphs 32, 45)

6. 

EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) 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, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94)

(see paragraphs 36, 37)

7. 

EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – The Office’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraph 43)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders each party to bear its own costs.