Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 4 December 2014 — Sales & Solutions v OHIM — Inceda (WATT and WATT)

(Joined Cases T‑494/13 and T‑495/13)

Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings —Community figurative trade mark Watt and Community word mark Watt — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) 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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 16, 17)

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 — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 18-21)

3.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Word and figurative marks WATT (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 28, 32-34, 38, 43)

4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Prior registration of the trade mark in certain Member States — Relevance (see para. 45)

Re:

In Case T‑494/13, action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 15 July 2013 (Case R 1192/2012-4), and, in Case T‑495/13, action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 15 July 2013 (Case R 1193/2012-4), concerning invalidity proceedings between Inceda Holding GmbH and Sales & Solutions GmbH.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the actions;

2. Orders Sales & Solutions GmbH to bear its own costs as well as those of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) and of Inceda Holding GmbH in Joined Cases T‑494/13 and T‑495/13.