62021TO0624_INF
Order of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 22 September 2022 –Primagran v EUIPO – Primagaz (prımagran)
(Case T‑624/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark prımagran – Earlier EU figurative mark PRIMA – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 27(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625 – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Prohibition of reformatio in pejus – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
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 – Scope – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))
(see paragraph 19)
2.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Legality of the decision of a Board of Appeal adjudicating in opposition proceedings – Challenge in reliance on new elements of law or fact – Not permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(2))
(see paragraph 20)
3.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeals before the Boards of Appeal – Competence of the Boards of Appeal – New full examination of the merits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 71(1))
(see paragraphs 27, 32)
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 registered for 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 36, 47-49, 124, 128)
5.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion – Opposition proceedings – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Examination of a legal question of the Office’s own motion – Condition
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))
(see paragraph 39)
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 registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Degree of attention of the relevant public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraph 52)
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 registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative marks primagran and PRIMA
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 57-60, 73, 91, 94, 115, 116, 125-127)
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 registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 65, 66, 72)
9.
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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Determination of the dominant element or elements
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 75, 83-86, 89, 90, 106)
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed.
2.
Primagran sp. z o.o. shall bear its own costs and pay the costs incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Compagnie des gaz de pétrole Primagaz.
(
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)	OJ C 481, 29.11.2021.