Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 7 November 2014 —
Kaatsu Japan v OHIM (KAATSU)

(Case T‑567/12)

Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark KAATSU — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Rights of the defence — Article 75, second sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it — Exclusion (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65) (see para. 19)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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. 27)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 28, 29)

4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 KAATSU (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 35-39)

5.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Observance of the rights of the defence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, second sentence) (see paras 49-51)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 9 October 2012 (Case R 435/2012‑2), relating to an application for registration of the word sign KAATSU as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Kaatsu Japan Co. Ltd to pay the costs.