Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 12 September 2013 —
‘Rauscher’ Consumer Products v OHIM (Representation of a tampon)

(Case T‑492/11)

Community trade mark — Application for a figurative Community trade mark representing a sanitary tampon — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctiveness — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Concept — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 12, 13)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional marks consisting in the shape of the product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 14-16)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark consisting of the two-dimensional representation of a product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 17)

4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark representing a sanitary tampon (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 20-28)

5.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — OHIM’s previous decision-making practice (see para. 30)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 20 July 2011 (Case R 2168/2010‑1) concerning an application for registration of a figurative sign representing a sanitary tampon as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders ‘Rauscher’ Consumer Products GmbH to pay the costs.