62022TJ0217_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 1 March 2023 –Lifestyle Equities v EUIPO – Greenwich Polo Club (GREENWICH POLO CLUB GPC 2002)
(Case T‑217/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark GREENWICH POLO CLUB GPC 2002 – Earlier EU figurative mark BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB – Relative ground for invalidity – No likelihood of confusion – No similarity of the goods – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 19)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1))
(see paragraphs 24, 25)
3.
EU trade mark – Lodging of application for EU trade mark – Identification of the goods or services concerned by the trade mark – Requirements of clarity and precision – Determination, by the competent authorities and the economic operators, of the extent of the protection conferred by the trade mark
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 26(1)(c); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 2(2))
(see paragraphs 31, 32)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative marks GREENWICH POLO CLUB GPC 2002 and BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1))
(see paragraphs 35, 36, 63, 68, 77, 78)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services – Clothing, footwear and headgear in Class 25 of the Nice Agreement and luggage and carrying bags in Class 18 of that agreement
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1))
(see paragraphs 45-48, 51, 54-56, 61, 65)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Lifestyle Equities CV and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear their own respective costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 237, 20.6.2022.