Volvo Personvagnar v EUIPO (Forme de phares d'automobile) (EU trade mark - Judgment) French Text [2024] EUECJ T-260/23 (26 June 2024)

Volvo Personvagnar v EUIPO (Forme de phares d'automobile) (EU trade mark - Judgment) French Text [2024] EUECJ T-260/23 (26 June 2024)

The Tribunal found that the combination of elements in the applicant’s mark, particularly the clear geometric 'Y' shape, is sufficiently marked and uncommon to differentiate it from other LED headlights on the market. This confers the minimum distinctiveness required by Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001....

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] EUECJ T-260/23
Parties
Applicant: Volvo Personvagnar AB; Respondent: Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO)
Jurisdiction
European Union
Procedural Posture
EU Trade Mark Annulment and Appeal / Judgment on Application for Annulment and Reformation of EUIPO Board of Appeal Decision
Outcome
Appeal allowed in part; Board of Appeal decision annulled; costs awarded against EUIPO.
Legal Topics
EU Trade Mark Law, Absolute Grounds for Refusal, Distinctiveness of 3 D Marks, Article 7(1)(b) Regulation (eu) 2017/1001
Intellectual Property European Union Law EU Trade Mark Law Absolute Grounds for Refusal Distinctiveness of 3 D Marks Article 7(1)(b) Regulation (eu) 2017/1001

Source-derived case record

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Parties

Volvo Personvagnar AB

Applicant

Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

EU Trade Mark Annulment and Appeal / Judgment on Application for Annulment and Reformation of EUIPO Board of Appeal Decision

  1. 1 Whether the 3D shape of automobile headlights is sufficiently distinctive under Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 to qualify for EU trade mark registration.

Ratio Decidendi

The Tribunal found that the combination of elements in the applicant’s mark, particularly the clear geometric 'Y' shape, is sufficiently marked and uncommon to differentiate it from other LED headlights on the market. This confers the minimum distinctiveness required by Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. The Board of Appeal erred in finding otherwise, and its decision was annulled.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed in part; Board of Appeal decision annulled; costs awarded against EUIPO.

Orders

  • No need to rule on confidentiality of annexes A.1 and A.3.
  • Decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 March 2023 (R 1129/2022-5) is annulled.