Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 5 July 2012 —
Deutscher Ring v OHIM (Deutscher Ring Sachversicherungs-AG)

(Case T-209/10)

Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark Deutscher Ring Sachversicherungs-AG — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — Distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — No power to issue directions (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(6)) (see para. 11)

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 service — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(e)) (see paras 17, 18)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a service — Word mark Deutscher Ring Sachversicherungs-AG (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b), and (c)) (see paras 20-31)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 11 March 2010 (Case R 1290/2009‑1) concerning an application for registration of the word mark Deutscher Ring Sachversicherungs-AG as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 11 March 2010 (Case R 1290/2009‑1);

2. Orders OHIM to pay the costs.