Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 17 January 2024

Uitspraak

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 17 January 2024 –
Ona Investigación v EUIPO – Formdiet (BIOPÔLE)

(Case T‑61/23) (¹)

( EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark BIOPÔLE – Earlier national word mark AGUA BIOPOLAR – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 )

1.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Annulment or variation for reasons appearing after judgment was delivered – Not included

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 72(2) and 95)

(see paragraph 16)

2.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Not included

(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))

(see paragraph 17)

3.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paragraphs 21, 87-89)

4.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paragraphs 27, 28, 34-36, 38, 39, 93, 94)

5.      EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraph 77)

6.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks BIOPÔLE and AGUA BIOPOLAR

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paragraphs 90-92, 95-97)

Operative part

The Court: