Bodybuilder silhouette is geen merk

Gerecht EU 29 september 2016, IEF 16287; IEFbe 1944; ECLI:EU:T:2016:579 (Universal Protein Supplements) EU-merk. De aanvraag voor registratie van beeldmerk dat een bodybuilder voorstelt voor voedingssupplementen is beschrijvend voor de producten en diensten waarvoor inschrijving is gevraagd. Het silhouette is een realistische weergave van hoe een bodybuilder in pose zijn armspieren toont. Het Gerecht EU weigert de voorziening.

36      In that respect, it must be noted that the technique known as ‘silhouette’, used for the representation of the sign at issue, does not, contrary to the applicant’s assertions, amount to a particularly stylised form of representation. Indeed, the image in question represents in a fairly realistic way the silhouette of a body-builder in a typical pose which highlights the body’s muscles and, in particular, those of the arms. As EUIPO states, no detail or characteristic of that image goes beyond the standard representation of a body-builder. The artistic and creative choices, the pose and the specific proportions of the mark applied for, assuming they are established, are merely details of the representation of a body-builder and are not capable of being remembered by the consumer (see, to that effect, judgments of 8 July 2010, Trautwein v OHIM (Representation of a dog), T‑385/08, not published, EU:T:2010:295, paragraph 37, and Trautwein v OHIM (Representation of a horse), T‑386/08, not published, EU:T:2010:296, paragraph 49). Furthermore, when questioned in that regard during the hearing, the applicant was not able to identify other elements in support of its argument.