Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber), 6 September 2012.#August Storck KG v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs).#Appeal — Community trade mark — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Three-dimensional sign consisting of the shape of a chocolate mouse.#Case C‑96/11 P.

ECLI:EU:C:2012:537Eu Chamb 08 CSep 6, 2012

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Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 6 September 2012 — Storck v OHIM

(Case C-96/11 P)

Appeal — Community trade mark — Absolute ground for refusal — Lack of distinctive character — Three-dimensional sign consisting of the shape of a chocolate mouse

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of distinctive character — Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of the product — Three-dimensional mark incorporating a figurative element (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 33-35, 38, 39)

2.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Observance of the rights of the defence — Scope of the principle — Annulment — Condition (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 73) (see paras 74, 80)

3.                     Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Grounds for decisions — Objective (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 73) (see paras 86, 88)

Re:

Appeal brought against the judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 17 December 2010 in Case T-13/09 Storck v OHIM , by which the General Court dismissed the action for annulment brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 12 November 2008, rejecting the appeal filed against the examiner’s decision refusing registration of a three-dimensional sign in the shape of a chocolate mouse as a Community trade mark for certain goods in Class 30 — Distinctive character of the mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1.

Dismisses the appeal;

2.

Orders August Storck KG to pay the costs.

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