Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 13 December 2016

Data

Court: General Court

Case date: 13 december 2016

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 13 December 2016 — Puro Italian Style v EUIPO (smartline)

(Case T‑744/15)

"(EU trade mark - Application for EU figurative mark smartline - Absolute ground for refusal - No distinctive character - Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)"

1. EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of any distinctive characterConceptCriteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))

(see paras 20, 21)

2. EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of any distinctive characterMarks constituted of advertising slogansDistinctive characterApplication of specific criteria for assessmentNot permissible

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))

(see paras 22, 23)

3. EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of any distinctive characterMarks constituted of advertising slogansFlattering promotional formulaFigurative mark smartline

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))

(see paras 24-26, 28-33, 37)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 7 October 2015 (Case R 2258/2014-1), concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign smartline as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Puro Italian Style SpA to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).