Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 14 July 2014 —
NIIT Insurance Technologies v OHIM (SUBSCRIBE)

(Case T‑404/13)

Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark SUBSCRIBE — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Equal treatment — Article 56 TFEU

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal — Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 19)

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. 20)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark SUBSCRIBE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 30-33)

4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Marks constituted of advertising slogans — Slogan carrying an objective message (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 39)

5.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — OHIM’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case (Council Regulation No 207/2009) (see paras 47, 48)

6.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Boards of Appeal — Classification as administration of the Office — Right of the parties to a fair ‘process’ — None (Council Regulation No 207/2009) (see para. 51)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 4 June 2013 (Case R 1308/2012-5) concerning an application for registration of the word sign SUBSCRIBE as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders NIIT Insurance Technologies Ltd to pay the costs.