62024TJ0022_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 4 December 2024 –Jula v EUIPO – Mula (Mula)
(Case T‑22/24)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark Mula – Earlier EU word mark Jula – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Relevant public – Visual and phonetic similarity)
1.
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 22-24, 34)
2.
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 – Word marks Mula and Jula
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 35, 50, 51, 63, 64, 76, 77, 79)
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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 39, 45, 47-49)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 69-71)
5.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))
(see paragraph 78)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 November 2023 (Case R 134/2023-5);
2.
Orders each party to bear its own costs.