Judgment of the General Court of 11 October 2017 — Osho Lotus Commune v EUIPO — Osho International Foundation (OSHO)

(Case T-670/15) ¹

(EU trade mark — Proceedings for a declaration of invalidity — EU word mark OSHO — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of descriptive character — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — No adverse effect on public policy — Article 7(1)(f) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

Language of the case: German

Parties

Applicant: Osho Lotus Commune eV (Cologne, Germany) (represented by: M. Viefhues, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: P. Ivanov and A. Schifko, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Osho International Foundation (Zurich, Switzerland) (represented by: B. Brandreth, Barrister)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 September 2015 (Case R 1997/2014-4), relating to proceedings for a declaration of invalidity between Osho Lotus Commune and Osho International Foundation.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.    Dismisses the action;

2.    Orders Osho Lotus Commune eV to bear, in addition to its own costs, those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);

3.    Orders Osho International Foundation to bear its own costs.

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¹     OJ C 27, 25.1.2016.