62020TJ0035_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 2 December 2020 –Monster Energy v EUIPO – Nanjing aisiyou Clothing (Representation of a scratch)
(Case T‑35/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for an EU figurative mark representing a claw-like scratch – Earlier EU and UK figurative marks representing claw-like scratches – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b), (4) and (5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
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 paras 24, 25, 54)
2.
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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 27)
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 registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Figurative marks without verbal elements – Phonetic comparison
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 45)
5.
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 – Review of the legal classification given to the facts of the dispute
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(2))
(see para. 48)
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 – Figurative mark representing a claw-like scratch – Figurative marks representing claw-like scratches
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 56-62)
7.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Interpretation in the light of EU law – Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 95(1))
(see paras 67-69)
8.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on – Verification of the content of national law – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 95(1); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Arts 7(2)(d))
(see paras 82, 83)
9.
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 paras 90, 91)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 13 November 2019 (Case R 1104/2019-5), relating to opposition proceedings between Monster Energy Company and Nanjing aisiyou Clothing.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 13 November 2019 (Case R 1104/2019-5), in so far as it concerns the rejection of the opposition based on Article 8(1)(b) and (5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.