62020TJ0711_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 5 October 2022 –Puma v EUIPO – CMS (CMS Italy)
(Case T‑711/20) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark CMS Italy – Earlier international figurative marks representing a feline bounding towards the left and earlier international figurative mark PUMA – Relative ground for refusal – Detriment to reputation – Article 8(5) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Similarity of the signs – Proof of reputation – Overall assessment)
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Not included
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 22)
2.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Lawfulness of the decision of a Board of Appeal – Account taken, for the purposes of applying EU law, of national legislation, case-law or academic writing – Whether permissible
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)
(see paragraph 23)
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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Aim
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraph 30)
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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Similarity between the marks concerned – Assessment criteria – Composite sign
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 31, 41, 43, 56, 74)
5.
Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 35, 102, 103)
6.
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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Detriment to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Relevant public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 36, 37)
7.
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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Figurative mark CMS Italy – Figurative marks representing a feline bounding towards the left and figurative mark PUMA
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 45, 59, 67, 78, 106-111, 123, 128, 134, 135, 137, 138, 140-143)
8.
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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or the EU – Concept – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))
(see paragraphs 82, 85, 126)
9.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Duty of diligence
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76(1))
(see paragraph 127)
10.
Action for annulment – Judgment annulling a measure – Effects – Obligation to implement – Scope – Both the operative part and the grounds of the judgment to be taken into account – Retroactive effect of annulment
(Art. 266 TFEU)
(see paragraph 131)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 24 September 2020 (Case R 2215/2019-4) as regards the oppositions based on earlier trade marks No 480105 and No 593987;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders Puma SE, EUIPO and CMS Costruzione macchine speciali SpA each to bear their own costs.
(
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)	OJ C 35, 1.2.2021.