Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 12 November 2013 —
Gamesa Eólica v OHIM — Enercon (Blended shades of green)

(Case T‑245/12)

Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Absolute ground for refusal — Application for Community trade mark consisting of blended shades of green — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Bad faith — Article 52(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Article 62 of Regulation No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal brought against a decision of a unit of the Office ruling at first instance and referred to the Board of Appeal — Functional continuity between those two bodies — Examination of the appeal by the Board of Appeal — Scope (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 64(1)) (see paras 18‑20)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Signs capable of constituting a mark — Colours or combinations of colours — Condition — Distinctive character (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b), and (3)) (see paras 24‑30)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 1 March 2012 (Case R 260/2011‑1) relating to invalidity proceedings between Gamesa Eólica SL and Enercon GmbH.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of First Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 1 March 2012 (Case R 260/2011‑1);

2. Orders OHIM to bear its own costs and to pay the costs of Gamesa Eólica, SL.