28.8.2017
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 283/5
Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 6 July 2017 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Audiencia Provincial de Burgos — Spain) — Juan Moreno Marín, María Almudena Benavente Cárdaba, Rodrigo Moreno Benavente v Abadía Retuerta, SA
(Case C-139/16) (1)
((Reference for a preliminary ruling - Trade marks - Directive 2008/95/EC - Article 3(1)(c) - National word mark La Milla de Oro - Grounds for refusal of registration or invalidity - Signs indicating geographical origin))
(2017/C 283/07)
Language of the case: Spanish
Referring court
Audiencia Provincial de Burgos
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicants: Juan Moreno Marín, María Almudena Benavente Cárdaba, Rodrigo Moreno Benavente
Defendant: Abadía Retuerta SA
Operative part of the judgment
1.
A sign such as ‘la Milla de Oro’, referring to the characteristic of a product or service which is that it can be found in abundance in a single place with a high degree of value and quality, cannot constitute an indication of geographical origin, since that sign must be accompanied by a name designating a geographical place so that the actual physical space with which a strong concentration of a product or service of a high degree of value or quality is associated may be identified.
2.
Article 3(1)(c) of Directive 2008/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks must be interpreted as meaning that a sign such as ‘la Milla de Oro’, referring to the characteristic of a product or service which is that such a product or service can be found in abundance in a single place with a high degree of value, is unlikely to have characteristics the use of which as a trade mark would constitute a ground for invalidity within the meaning of that provision.
(1) OJ C 200, 6.6.2016.