Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Seventh Chamber) of 30 September 2009 – JOOP! v OHIM (Representation of an exclamation mark in a rectangle)
(Case T-191/08)
Community trade mark – Application for registration of a figurative Community trade mark representing an exclamation mark in a rectangle – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(1)(b), (c) and 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b), (c) and 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)
Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Acquisition of distinctive character through use (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(b) and (3)) (see paras 25-30, 42-47)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 6 March 2008 (Case R 1822/2007-1) relating to an application for registration of a figurative sign as a Community trade mark.
Information relating to the case
Applicant for the Community trade mark:
JOOP! GmbH
Community trade mark sought:
Figurative mark representing an exclamation mark in a rectangle, for goods in Classes 14, 18 and 25 – Application No 5332176
Decision of the Examiner:
Registration refused
Decision of the Board of Appeal:
Appeal dismissed
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders JOOP! GmbH to pay the costs.
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