Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 22 May 2014 —
Walcher Meßtechnik v OHIM (HIPERDRIVE)

(Case T‑95/13)

Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark HIPERDRIVE — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 para. 18)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 19-22)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 para. 23)

4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of goods — Word mark HIPERDRIVE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 25, 34-40, 44)

5.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — OHIM’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case (see paras 47-49)

6.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Prior registration of the trade mark in certain Member States — Effect (see para. 53)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 13 December 2012 (Case R 1779/2012‑1) concerning an application for registration of the word sign HIPERDRIVE as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Walcher Meßtechnik GmbH to pay the costs.