62022TJ0261_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 12 July 2023 –mBank v EUIPO – European Merchant Bank (EMBANK European Merchant Bank)
(Case T‑261/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark EMBANK European Merchant Bank – Earlier EU figurative mark mBank – Earlier national word mark mBank – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 60(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 95(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Article 27(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625 – Document submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal)
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))
(see paragraphs 20-26)
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 – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 31, 32)
3.
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 55, 56, 124, 125, 136)
4.
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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 57, 90, 101-103, 109, 112)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public – Financial and banking services
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 59, 63, 64, 130)
6.
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 – Figurative marks EMBANK European Merchant Bank and mBank
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 68, 93, 99, 113, 120, 132, 143, 145)
7.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001)
(see paragraph 141)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders mBank S.A. to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 257, 4.7.2022.