Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 6 February 2013 — Bopp v OHIM (Representation of a green octagonal frame)

(Case T‑263/11)

Community trade mark — Application for a Community figurative mark representing a green octagonal frame — Absolute ground for refusal — Distinctive character — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Offer of evidence submitted for the first time in the reply — Article 48(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court — Document sent to OHIM by fax — Applicable rules

1.                     Judicial proceedings — Producing evidence — Time limit — Evidence lodged out of time — Conditions (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 48(1)) (see paras 31, 35)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 48)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 48)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 11 March 2011 (Case R 605/2010-4), concerning an application for registration as a Community trade mark of a figurative sign representing a green octagonal frame.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 11 March 2011 (Case R 605/2010-4);

2. Orders OHIM to pay the costs.