On 23 November 2004, the Court of First Instance (CFI) gave its judgment in Frischpack v OHIM (Forme d'une boîte de fromage) Case T-360/03.
The applicant sought to alter and then annul the contested decision made by the Board of Appeal in so far as it refers to cheese slices in large packs, not intended for the final consumer, after being denied registration of a 3D shape packaging for cheese (Class 29 of the Nice Agreement). The applicant argued that the Board of Appeal had not complied with Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94 in failing to have regard to the distinctive character of the mark applied for.
The applicant noted that the distinctive character of a mark depends on the goods for which registration is sought (in this case, foodstuffs in sliced form, in particular slices of cheese) and the relevant public. It argued that the Board of Appeal erred in defining the relevant public as the general public where it was in fact the wholesale trade, who are able to identify the
