15/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The word “MONACO” cannot constitute an intellectual property mark for all products and services. In a judgment (case T-197/13) returned on Thursday 15 January, the General Court of the EU upheld the refusal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) to allow the Principality of Monaco to register the word mark “MONACO” in respect of some of the goods and services applied for (including printing products, photographs, transport, the organisation of travel and entertainment). The General Court found that OHIM's decision was justified, firstly because the word “MONACO” evokes the geographical territory of the same name, and secondly because it is devoid of distinctive character, insofar as it can be used, in trade, to designate origin, geographical designation or place of supply of services. (JK)