Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 12 December 2019

Data

Court: General Court

Case date: 12 december 2019

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 12 December 2019 –
Baustoffwerke Gebhart & Söhne v EUIPO (BIOTON)

(Case T‑255/19)

"(EU trade mark - Application for EU word mark BIOTON - Absolute ground for refusal - Descriptive character - Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 - No distinctive character - Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001)"

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or serviceMeaning

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

(see para. 13)

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or serviceAssessment of the descriptive nature of a signCriteria

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

(see paras 14, 15, 26)

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or serviceWord mark BIOTON

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

(see paras 17-23, 25, 28)

EU trade markDecisions of the OfficeLegalityEUIPO’s previous decision-making practice

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see para. 27)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 20 February 2019 (Case R 1887/2018-4), relating to an application for registration of the word sign BOITON as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders Baustoffwerke Gebhart & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.