Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 11 December 2013 —
Smartbook v OHIM (SMARTBOOK)

(Case T‑123/12)

Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark SMARTBOOK — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctiveness — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 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 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 37, 38)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Overlap between the scope of the grounds for refusal set out in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of Article 7(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c)) (see paras 39, 40)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark SMARTBOOK (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 42-52)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 15 December 2011 (Case R 799/2011-2), concerning an application for registration of the word sign SMARTBOOK as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Smartbook AG to pay the costs.