62020TJ0368_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 16 June 2021 –Smiley Miley v EUIPO – Cyrus Trademarks (MILEY CYRUS)
(Case T‑368/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark MILEY CYRUS – Earlier EU figurative mark CYRUS – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
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 – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 17-19)
2.
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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 20)
3.
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 paras 27, 39, 52-54)
4.
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 – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed – Distinctive character of a first name and a surname
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 32-34)
5.
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 mark MILEY CYRUS and figurative mark CYRUS
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 35, 38, 45-47, 57, 59, 63, 65)
6.
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 – Whether conceptual differences may neutralise visual or aural similarities – Conditions
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 60)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 April 2020 (Case R 2520/2018-4), relating to opposition proceedings between Cyrus Trademarks and Smiley Miley.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 2 April 2020 (Case R 2520/2018-4);
2.
Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.