62024TJ0565_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 29 October 2025 – Itron v EUIPO – Advanced Sanitairy Technologies (ITRON)
(Case T‑565/24)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark ITRON – Earlier EU word marks ITRON – Relative grounds for refusal – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 8(5) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Distance between the goods and services in question)
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Procedural role of EUIPO – Right of EUIPO, although designated as the defendant, to support the applicant’s claims
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 172)
(see paragraph 14)
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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 18-20, 28, 46, 48)
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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Word mark ITRON – Word marks ITRON
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 35-39, 45, 47, 49, 50, 52)
Operative part
1.
Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 26 August 2024 (Case R 1596-2023-1);
2.
Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.