Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 25 November 2014 —
Verband der Kölnisch-Wasser Hersteller v OHIM (Original Eau de Cologne)

(Case T‑556/13)

Community trade mark — Application for the Community collective word mark Original Eau de Cologne — Absolute grounds for refusal — Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (d) 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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 13, 14)

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 — Word mark Original Eau de Cologne (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 18, 20-23, 31)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 21 August 2013 (Case R 2064/2012‑14) concerning an application for registration of the word mark Original Eau de Cologne as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Verband der Kölnisch-Wasser Hersteller eV to pay the costs.