Judgment of the General Court of 31 January 2024 – IU Internationale Hochschule v EUIPO (IU International University of Applied Sciences)

(Case T-188/23) ¹

(EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark IU International University of Applied Sciences – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

Language of the case: German

Parties

Applicant: IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH (Erfurt, Germany) (represented by: A. Heise, lawyer)

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

Re:

By its action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks the annulment of the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 14 February 2023 (Case R 1951/2022-1).

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH to bear its own costs;

Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.

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¹     OJ C 189, 30.5.2023.