62021TJ0184_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 23 February 2022 – Lackmann Fleisch- und Feinkostfabrik v EUIPO – Schuju (Хозяин)
(Case T‑184/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark Хозяин – 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 – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Modification of the terms of the dispute as brought before the Board of Appeal – Not permissible
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188)
(see para. 17)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 27, 28, 30, 79-81)
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 – 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. 31)
4.
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 34-36)
5.
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 40, 41)
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 Хозяин and figurative mark хозяюшка
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 45, 60, 70, 78, 95, 105)
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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))
(see paras 46, 47, 56, 57)
8.
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. 92)
9.
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 99, 103)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Lackmann Fleisch- und Feinkostfabrik GmbH to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 242, 21.6.2021.