Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 8 March 2018 — Cinkciarz.pl v EUIPO (€$)

(Case T‑665/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU figurative mark €$ — Absolute grounds for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Obligation to state reasons — Article 65 of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 72 of Regulation 2017/1001))

1.      EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions —Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU

(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence)

(see paras 15, 32)

2.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 75, first sentence)

(see paras 16-20)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 July 2016 (Case R 2086/2015-5), concerning an application for registration of the sign €$ as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 14 July 2016 (Case R 2086/2015-5);

2. Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.