Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 2 July 2025 – Camilla and Marc Operations v EUIPO – C&A (C&M)
(Case T‑380/24)
( EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark C&M – Earlier EU word mark C&A – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Visual and phonetic similarity – 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 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 16, 17, 59, 60)
2.      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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 27-29, 35, 45, 51, 53)
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 – Figurative mark C&M and word mark C&A (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 61-63)
4.      EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraph 81)
5.      Action for annulment – Pleas in law – Plea directed against a ground included for the sake of completeness – Plea in law ineffective
(see paragraph 83)
Operative part
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Camilla and Marc Operations Pty Ltd to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by C&A AG;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.