Judgment of the General Court of 14 July 2021 – Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management v EUIPO – Yiwu Dearbody Cosmetics (BODYSECRETS)

(Case T-810/19) ¹

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark BODYSECRETS – Absolute grounds for refusal – No distinctive character – Descriptive character – Customary nature – Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (d), and Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (d), and Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001))

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management, Inc. (Reynoldsburg, Ohio, United States) (represented by: J. Dickerson, Solicitor)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: M. Fischer and V. Ruzek, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO: Yiwu Dearbody Cosmetics Co. Ltd (Yiwu City, China)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 September 2019 (Case R 2422/2018-5) relating to invalidity proceedings between Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management and Yiwu Dearbody Cosmetics.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management, Inc. to pay the costs.

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¹     OJ C 45, 10.2.2020.