Judgment of the General Court (Single Judge) of 15 September 2021 –
Beelow v EUIPO (made of wood)

(Case T‑702/20)

(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark made of wood – 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)

1.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Precluded

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)

(see para. 14)

2.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark made of wood

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

(see paras 26, 27, 30, 31, 35, 47, 51, 53)

3.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept

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

(see paras 29, 37, 38, 50, 52)

4.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability

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

(see para. 36)

5.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Overlap of the scope of the grounds set out in Article 7(1)(b) and Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/7(1)(b) and 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001

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

(see paras 60, 61)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 September 2020 (Case R 108/2020-2), concerning an application for registration of the word sign made of wood as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Mr Timo Beelow to pay the costs.