62023TJ1082_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 8 January 2025 –Fresh Tropical v EUIPO – Altunyaldiz (AlìBabà)
(Case T‑1082/23)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark AlìBabà – Earlier EU word mark ALIBABA – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Pleas in law not set out in the application – General reference to other documents annexed to the application – Inadmissibility
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see paragraph 16)
2.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Request submitted expressly and on time by the applicant – Possibility of submitting the request for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Precluded
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2))
(see paragraphs 21, 22)
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 – Criteria for assessment – Distinctiveness or reputation of the earlier mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 26-28, 95, 100, 102)
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 – 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 31, 35, 36)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark AlìBabà and word mark ALIBABA
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 38, 101, 106-109)
6.
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 concerned – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 40, 41)
7.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraph 49)
8.
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 – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 64, 65, 73, 74, 77)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Fresh Tropical Srl by Jawad to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Mr Alper Altunyaldiz.