Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 30 April 2013 — Boehringer Ingelheim International v OHIM (RELY-ABLE)

(Case T‑640/11)

Community trade mark — International registration designating the European Community — Word mark RELY-ABLE — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Ground included for sake of completeness

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 13, 14)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark RELY-ABLE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 15-29, 31, 32)

3.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — OHIM’s previous decision-making practice (see paras 33, 34)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 30 September 2011 (Case R 756/2011‑4) concerning the international registration designating the European Community of the word sign RELY‑ABLE.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to pay the costs.