Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 25 September 2018 –
EM Research Organization v EUIPO — Christoph Fischer and Others (EM)

(Case T‑180/17)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark ‘EM’ — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Evidence produced for the first time before the General Court)

1.      EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies — Not included

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)

(see para. 20)

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 — Aim — Need to preserve availability

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

(see para. 29)

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 — Criteria

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

(see paras 30, 31)

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 — Meaning

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

(see paras 32, 81, 84)

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 — Word mark EM

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

(see paras 44, 55-59, 73, 75, 85, 87)

6.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Invalidity proceedings — Admissibility — Misuse of rights — Irrelevant

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 37(1) and 56(1)(a))

(see paras 54, 67-69)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 January 2017 (Case R 2442/2015-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Christoph Fischer, Ole Weinkath, Multikraft Produktions- und Handel and Phytodor, on one hand, and, on the other, EM Research Organization.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders EM Research Organization, Inc. to pay the costs.

2. Orders EM Research Organization, Inc. to pay the costs.