Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 21 June 2017 —
Rare Hospitality International v EUIPO (LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE)

(Case T‑856/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU word mark LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Equal treatment and the principle of sound administration)

1.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 22, 45)

2.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see paras 23, 24, 30)

3.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Concept — Neologism consisting of elements descriptive of characteristics of the goods or services concerned — Whether included where the nature of the combination is not unusual

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see para. 25)

4.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Word mark LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))

(see paras 31-33, 40-43)

5.      EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case

(Council Regulation No 207/2009)

(see paras 52-57)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 September 2016 (Case R 2149/2015-5) concerning an application for registration of word sign LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Rare Hospitality International, Inc. to pay the costs.