62021TJ0185_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 23 February 2022 –Lackmann Fleisch- und Feinkostfabrik v EUIPO – Schuju (Хозяйка)
(Case T‑185/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark Хозяйка – Earlier national figurative mark хозяюшка – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 25, 26, 28, 77-79)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see para. 29)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier 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
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 32-34)
4.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Brief statement of the pleas in law on which the application is based
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para., and 53, first para..; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see paras 38, 39)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 44, 45, 54, 55)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word mark Хозяйка and figurative mark хозяюшка
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 43, 58, 68, 76, 92, 101)
7.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see para. 89)
8.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies
(Council Regulation No 207/2009)
(see paras 96, 99)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Lackmann Fleisch- und Feinkostfabrik GmbH to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 242, 21.6.2021.