Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 1 February 2013 — Ferrari v OHIM (PERLE’)

(Case T‑104/11)

Community trade mark — International registration designating the European Community — Figurative mark PERLE' — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — Lack of distinctive character — Lack of distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 10-13, 30)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark PERLE' (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c)) (see paras 19, 22-27, 33)

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 — Existence of other ways of designating the same characteristics — Not relevant (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see para. 31)

4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Exception — Acquisition of distinctiveness through use — Mark devoid of distinctive character in part of the Union — Acquisition of distinctive character in that same part (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3)) (see paras 36-38)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 8 December 2010 (Case R 1249/2010-2) concerning the international registration, designating the European Community, of the figurative mark PERLE’.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Ferrari F.lli Lunelli SpA to pay the costs.