62023TJ0064_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 13 November 2024 –Aesculap v EUIPO – Aeneas (AESKUCARE Food Intolerance, AESKUCARE and AESKUCARE Allergy)
(Joined Cases T‑64/23 to T‑66/23) (
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(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Applications for EU figurative marks AESKUCARE Food Intolerance and AESKUCARE Allergy and EU word mark AESKUCARE – Earlier EU and national word marks AESCULAP – Relative ground for refusal – Damage to reputation – Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Cross-claims)
1.
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 – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or in the European Union – Concept – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 14, 18, 24)
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 – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or in the European Union – Evidence in support of the reputation
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 25, 26, 126)
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 – Figurative marks AESKUCARE Food Intolerance and AESKUCARE Allergy – Word marks AESKUCARE and AESCULAP
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 42, 60, 92, 111, 134-136, 152, 153, 176)
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 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 63, 64, 71, 72, 79, 161)
5.
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 – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 97, 104-107)
6.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraphs 123, 125)
7.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU
(Art. 296, second para., TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraphs 124, 139)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decisions of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 12 November 2022 (Case R 18/2022-2), of 23 November 2022 (Case R 20/2022-2) and of 29 November 2022 (Case R 21/2022-2) in so far as they annulled the decisions of the Opposition Division of 30 November 2021 and rejected the oppositions in respect of the goods and services in Classes 5, 42 and 44 of the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended;
2.
Dismisses the cross-claims;
3.
In respect of the main actions, orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Aesculap AG, and orders Aeneas GmbH & Co. KG to bear its own costs;
4.
In respect of the cross-claims, orders Aeneas to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Aesculap and EUIPO;
5.
Orders Aeneas to pay the costs necessarily incurred by Aesculap for the purposes of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal in Cases R 18/2022-2, R 20/2022-2 and R 21/2022-2.
(
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)	OJ C 112, 27.3.2023.