Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 23 September 2020 –
Tetra v EUIPO – Neusta next (Wave)

(Case T‑869/19)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark Wave – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

1.      European Union trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))

(see paras 15-17)

2.      European Union trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark Wave

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))

(see paras 26, 28-30)

3.      European Union trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(3)

(see paras 32-34)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 October 2019 (Case R 2440/2018-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Neusta next and Tetra.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 4 October 2019 (Case R 2440/2018-2);

2. Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

3. Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.