62021TJ0372_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 8 March 2023 –Sympatex Technologies v EUIPO – Liwe Española (Sympathy Inside)
(Case T‑372/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark Sympathy Inside – Earlier EU word mark INSIDE. – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 18(1) of Regulation 2017/1001) – No alteration of distinctive character)
1.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use of the mark in a form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and material scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second subpara., (a), and 42(2))
(see paragraphs 20-22, 27, 33, 37)
2.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Need to determine that question, once raised by the applicant before the decision on the opposition – Consequence
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2))
(see paragraphs 50, 51)
3.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Opposition proceedings – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Examination of a legal question of EUIPO’s own motion – Condition
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95)
(see paragraph 54)
4.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3))
(see paragraphs 55, 66)
5.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Decision of an EUIPO unit forming part of the context of the decision of the Board of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraphs 59, 60)
6.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1))
(see paragraph 61)
7.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 76-78, 126, 133, 134)
8.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks Sympathy Inside and INSIDE.
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 87, 90, 103, 108, 116, 125, 131, 140, 143)
9.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraphs 88, 115)
10.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 95-97, 107)
11.
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 – Account taken by the General Court of matters of law and fact not previously raised before the departments of EUIPO – Not included
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 142)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Sympatex Technologies GmbH to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 329, 16.8.2021.