62022TJ0505_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 10 January 2024 –Levantur v EUIPO – Fantasia Hotels & Resorts (LUXURY BAHIA PRINCIPE FANTASIA Don Pablo Collection)
(Case T‑505/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative trade mark LUXURY BAHIA PRINCIPE FANTASIA Don Pablo Collection – Earlier national trade name FANTASIA HOTELES – Relative ground for invalidity – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(4) and Article 53(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(4) and Article 60(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Article 27(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625)
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision of 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 22-27)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Interpretation in the light of EU law
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 60(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 48, 50)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Use of the sign in trade – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 60(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 51-54)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Local scope of sign
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 60(1)(c))
(see paragraph 55)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Figurative mark LUXURY BAHIA PRINCIPE FANTASIA Don Pablo Collection and trade name FANTASIA HOTELES
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 60(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 64-67, 71, 72)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence 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, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 75, 76, 123, 124)
7.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence 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 LUXURY BAHIA PRINCIPE FANTASIA Don Pablo Collection and trade name FANTASIA HOTELES
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 82, 110, 122, 125, 126)
8.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence 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, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 85, 93, 94, 106, 119)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Levantur, SA to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Fantasia Hotels & Resorts, SL.
(
1
)	OJ C 380, 3.10.2022.