Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 27 February 2015 —
Universal Utility International v OHIM (Greenworld)

(Case T‑106/14)

Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark Greenworld — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     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. 14)

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 — Concept — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 15, 17, 18)

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 — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 16, 19, 32, 33, 35)

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 Greenworld (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paras 20-22, 26, 34, 39)

5.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — OHIM’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case (Council Regulation No 207/2009) (see paras 36, 37)

Re:

ACTION against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 13 December 2013 (Case R 1658/2013-4), concerning an application for registration of the word sign Greenworld as a Community trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Universal Utility International GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.