Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 18 January 2013 —
FunFactory v OHIM (Vibrator)

(Case T‑137/12)

Community trade mark — Application for a three-dimensional trade mark — Vibrator — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Obligation to state reasons — First sentence of Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Rights of the defence — Second sentence of Article 75 of Regulation 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 — Three-dimensional mark constituted by the shape of the product — Distinctive character — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 17-20)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Three-dimensional mark representing a vibrator (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 24, 27-38)

3.                     Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence) (see para. 40)

4.                     Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75) (see paras 41, 42)

5.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Observance of the rights of the defence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75) (see paras 53, 54)

6.                     Community 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 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(2), and Art. 76) (see para. 62)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 19 January 2012 (Case R 1436/2011‑4) concerning an application for registration of a three-dimensional sign representing a vibrator.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the application;

2. Orders FunFactory GmbH to pay the costs.