Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 2 June 2021

Data

Court: General Court

Case date: 2 juni 2021

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 2 June 2021 –
Franz Schröder v EUIPO – RDS Design (MONTANA)

(Case T‑855/19)

"(EU trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - International registration designating the European Union - Figurative mark MONTANA - Absolute ground for refusal - Descriptiveness - Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) - Right to be heard - Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 - Examination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motion - Admission of evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal - Article 95(1) and (2) of Regulation 2017/1001)"

EU trade markProcedural provisionsExamination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motionFacts and evidence not submitted in timeAccount takenPower of assessment of EUIPO

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2))

(see paras 24-26)

EU trade markProcedural provisionsExamination of the facts by EUIPO of own motionInvalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusalExamination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments providedWell-known facts taken into account

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7, 59, 62 and 95(1))

(see paras 38-41, 48, 49)

EU trade markAppeals procedureAppeals before the Boards of AppealCompetence of the Boards of AppealNew full examination of the meritsScope

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 71(1) and 95(1))

(see paras 42, 45, 50, 56)

EU trade markProcedural provisionsDecisions of EUIPOObservance of the rights of the defenceScope of the principle

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)

(see paras 63, 65)

EU trade markProcedural provisionsStatement of reasons for decisionsScope

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)

(see para. 72)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityAbsolute grounds for invalidityMarks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or serviceAssessment of the descriptive nature of a signGeographical names

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

(see paras 81-85, 94)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityAbsolute grounds for invalidityMarks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or serviceFigurative mark MONTANA

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

(see paras 87, 91-93, 97-101, 104, 105)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 October 2019 (Case R 1006/2019-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Franz Schröder and RDS Design.

Operative part

The Court:

Dismisses the action;
Orders Franz Schröder GmbH & Co. KG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);
Orders RDS Design ApS to bear its own costs.