Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 16 February 2017 — Gruppe Nymphenburg Consult v EUIPO (Limbic® Map)

(Case T‑513/15)

(EU trade mark — Application for the EU word mark Limbic® Map — Lack of distinctive character — Absolute ground for refusal — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

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 — Criteria

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

(see paras 17, 22, 36)

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 — Concept — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements

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

(see paras 18-21)

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 — Word mark Limbic® Map

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

(see paras 24-28, 35-52)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 June 2015 (Case R 1973/2014-1), concerning an application for registration of the word sign Limbic® Map as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 23 June 2015 (Case R 1973/2014-1);

2. Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs as well as those incurred by Gruppe Nymphenburg Consult AG.