Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 15 March 2023

Data

Court: General Court

Case date: 15 maart 2023

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 15 March 2023 –
FA World Entertainment v EUIPO (FUCKING AWESOME)

(Case T‑178/22)^(*)

"(EU trade mark - International registration designating the European Union - Word mark FUCKING AWESOME - Absolute ground for refusal - No distinctive character - Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 - Legal certainty - Equal treatment - Principle of sound administration)"

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of distinctive characterMeaningCriteria for assessment

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

(see paragraphs 17, 18)

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of distinctive characterWord mark FUCKING AWESOME

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

(see paragraphs 27, 33, 34, 41, 53, 67)

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of distinctive characterTrade mark made up of several elementsPossible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade markNeed to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public

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

(see paragraph 32)

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAbsolute grounds for refusalMarks devoid of distinctive characterMarks consisting of advertising slogansDistinctive characterCriteria for assessment

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

(see paragraphs 46, 48, 49)

EU trade markDefinition and acquisition of the EU trade markAssessment of the registrability of a signEU rules only taken into accountEarlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countriesDecisions not binding EU bodies

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraph 71)

EU trade markDecisions of EUIPOLegalityExamination by the EU judicatureCriteria

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraph 73)

EU trade markDecisions of EUIPOPrinciple of equal treatmentPrinciple of sound administrationEUIPO’s previous decision-making practicePrinciple of legalityNeed for a stringent and full examination in each individual case

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraphs 74, 75)

Operative part

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders FA World Entertainment Inc. to pay the costs.