62022TJ0728_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 6 September 2023 –Industrias Lácteas Asturianas v EUIPO – Qingdao United Dairy (NAMLAC)
(Case T‑728/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark NAMLAC – Earlier Spanish figurative mark Analac – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – 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 19, 20, 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Level of attention of the public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 22-25)
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 – Word mark NAMLAC and figurative mark Analac
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 29, 30, 48, 52, 57, 64)
4.
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 goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraph 31)
5.
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 – Composite mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 40, 41)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Industrias Lácteas Asturianas, SA and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear their own respective costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 24, 23.1.2023.