62020TJ0015_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 30 June 2021 –Skyliners v EUIPO – Sky (SKYLINERS)
(Case T‑15/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark SKYLINERS – Earlier EU word marks SKY – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 41(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) and Article 46(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Entitlement to file the opposition)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Clear and precise statement of the pleas relied on – Flexible interpretation
(see para. 24)
2.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal against a decision of the Opposition Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Facts and evidence not produced in support of the opposition within the period prescribed for that purpose – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 46(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Rules 15(2)(h) and 19(1) and (2))
(see paras 46, 47)
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 registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks SKYLINERS and SKY
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 65, 81-86)
4.
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 – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paras 75-78)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 29 October 2019 (Case R 798/2018-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Sky and Skyliners.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 29 October 2019 (Case R 798/2018-4);
2.
Orders EUIPO and Sky Ltd to bear their own costs and, in addition, to pay jointly those incurred by Skyliners GmbH.