Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 22 March 2013 — Bottega Veneta International v OHIM (Shape of a handbag)
(Case T‑409/10)
Community trade mark — Application for a three-dimensional Community trade mark — Shape of a handbag — Absolute grounds for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Lack of distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(1)(b) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Failure to take account of an element of the trade mark applied for — Rule No 9 of Regulation (EC) No 2868/95
1. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Assessment of distinctive character (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 45, 46)
2. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional mark constituted by the shape of the product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 47-50)
3. 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 — Three-dimensional mark consisting in the shape of a handbag (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b), and (3)) (see paras 53, 56, 63, 64, 70, 71, 87-89, 96-98, 101, 102)
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 — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(3)) (see paras 74-78)
Re:
| ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 16 June 2010 (Case R 1247/2009‑1), concerning an application for registration of a three dimensional sign in the shape of a handbag as a Community trade mark. |
Operative part
The Court:
2. | | Orders Bottega Veneta International Sàrl to pay the costs. |