Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 15 May 2018 –
Wirecard v EUIPO (mycard2go)

(Case T‑860/16)

(EU trade mark — Application for EU figurative mark mycard2go — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

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 para. 13)

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 — Meaning

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

(see paras 14-17)

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 — Meaning — 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, 19)

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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria

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

(see para. 20)

5.      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 — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Figurative mark mycard2go

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

(see paras 26, 29, 37, 46, 50)

6.      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 — Perception of the sign by the relevant public

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

(see para. 28)

7.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 75, first sentence)

(see paras 38, 39)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 3 October 2016 (Case R 281/2016-4) concerning an application for registration of the figurative sign mycard2go as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Wirecard AG to pay the costs.