Case T‑55/14

Genossenschaftskellerei Rosswag-Mühlhausen eG

v

Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM)

(Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark Lembergerland — Absolute ground for refusal — Trade mark for wine with geographical indications — Article 7(1)(j) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

Summary — Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber), 14 July 2015

1.      Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks of wines or spirits containing or comprising geographical indications intended to identify wines or spirits not having those origins — Word mark Lembergerland

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

2.      Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks of wines or spirits containing or comprising geographical indications intended to identify wines or spirits not having those origins — Conditions

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

3.      Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks of wines or spirits containing or comprising geographical indications intended to identify wines or spirits not having those origins — Deceptive nature — Likelihood of confusion — Irrelevant

(Council Regulation No207/2009, Art. 7(1)(j))

1.      The word mark Lembergerland, registration of which as a Community trade mark is sought in respect of ‘alcoholic drinks (except beers)’ falling within Class 33 of the Nice arrangement is covered by the absolute ground for refusal laid down by Article 7(1)(j) of Regulation No 207/2009, by reason of the existence of the protected geographical indication Lemberg.

First, Lemberg is a protected geographical indication within the territory of the European Union for wines originating from South Africa under the provisions of the Agreement between the Community and the Republic of South Africa. The fact that the name refers to an ‘estate’ (a wine-growing estate) and not to a region, a municipality or a district does not call into question the fact that it is expressly protected as a geographical indication under that agreement.

Second, the mark applied for Lembergerland contains or consists of the geographical indication Lemberg, protected under the Agreement between the Community and the Republic of South Africa for wines of that provenance. The goods covered by the mark applied for include wine even though the applicant did not claim that it originates from Lemberg.

(see paras 16, 29)

2.      See the text of the decision.

(see para. 22)

3.      The absolute ground for refusal laid down in Article 7(1)(j) of Regulation No 40/94 applies without it being necessary to consider whether the mark for which registration is sought is liable to deceive the public or not, or whether it leads to a likelihood of confusion regarding the origin of the product.

(see para. 26)