Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Bundespatentgericht (Germany) lodged on 25 February 2011 — Securvita Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung alternativer Versicherungskonzepte mbH v Öko-Invest Verlagsgesellschaft mbH; Other party: Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt

(Case C-91/11)

2011/C 173/06

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Bundespatentgericht

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Securvita Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung alternativer Versicherungskonzepte mbH

Defendant: Öko-Invest Verlagsgesellschaft mbH

Other party: Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt

Question referred

Is the ground for refusal under Article 3(1)(b) and/or (c) of Directive 2008/95/EG (1) also applicable to a word sign which consists of a letter sequence which is non-descriptive — when considered on its own — and a descriptive word combination, if the trade perceives the letter sequence as an abbreviation of the descriptive words because it reproduces their initial letters, and the trade mark as a whole can thus be construed as a combination of mutually explanatory descriptive indications or abbreviations?

(1)  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 (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance); OJ 2008 L 299, p. 25.