Judgment of the General Court of 30 June 2021 – Ceramica Flaminia v EUIPO – Ceramica Cielo (goclean)

(Case T-290/20) ¹

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark goclean – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 52(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(a) and Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 52(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001))

Language of the case: Italian

Parties

Applicant: Ceramica Flaminia SpA (Civita Castellana, Italy) (represented by: A. Improda and R. Arista, lawyers)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: M. Capostagno, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Ceramica Cielo SpA (Fabrica di Roma, Italy) (represented by: L. Ghedina, L. Gyulai and E. Fassina, lawyers)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 March 2020 (Case R 991/2018-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Ceramica Cielo and Ceramica Flaminia.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.    Dismisses the action;

2.    Orders Ceramica Flaminia SpA to pay the costs.

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¹     OJ C 222, 6.7.2020.