Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 9 July 2025

Uitspraak

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 9 July 2025 –
sprd.net v EUIPO (Capital letter ‘I’ and a red heart on the outside of the back of the neck of an item of clothing)

(Case T‑306/24)

( EU trade mark – Application for an EU position mark comprising a capital letter ‘I’ and a red heart on the outside of the back of the neck of an item of clothing – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 )

1.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Concept of distinctiveness

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

(see paragraph 22)

2.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria

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

(see paragraph 23)

3.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Position mark comprising a capital letter ‘I’ and a red heart on the outside of the back of the neck of an item of clothing

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

(see paragraphs 26, 27, 29, 35, 36, 38, 40, 50, 56, 57, 68, 69)

4.      EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment –Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’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 paragraphs 30-34, 59)

5.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria – Position mark

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

(see paragraph 43)

6.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Three-dimensional mark constituted by the shape of the product – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment

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

(see paragraphs 43-45)

7.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge –None – Dispute before the General Court

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))

(see paragraphs 51, 52, 73)

8.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Registration of a new trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Burden of proof

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

(see paragraphs 53, 72)

9.      EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria – EUIPO examination guidelines – Effect

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraph 63)

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

(see paragraphs 79-81)

11.    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 – Essential procedural requirement

(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)

(see paragraph 84)

Operative part

The Court: