62020TJ0168_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 24 March 2021 –Creaton South-East Europe v EUIPO – Henkel (CREATHERM)
(Case T‑168/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark CREATHERM – Earlier international word mark CERETHERM – Relative ground for refusal – 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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 16, 17, 67, 75, 79, 82)
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 – Degree of attention of the relevant public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 18, 24, 30, 32)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks CREATHERM and CERETHERM
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 25, 33, 51, 63, 90)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paras 36, 37, 44-46, 61)
5.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paras 84, 85)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 15 January 2020 (Case R 1090/2019-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Henkel and Creaton South-East Europe.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Creaton South-East Europe Kft. to pay the costs.