Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 13 September 2023 –Transformers Manufacturing Company v EUIPO – H&F (TMC TRANSFORMERS)
(Case T‑163/22) (1)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark TMC TRANSFORMERS – International registration of the earlier figurative mark TMC – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 21)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 42-44)
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 – 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, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 45-47, 98)
4.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Decision of an EUIPO body forming part of the context of the decision of the Board of Appeal and Decision of a unit of the Office forming part of the context of the decision of the Board of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 71(1) and 72)
(see paragraphs 54, 55)
5.      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 – Figurative marks TMC TRANSFORMERS and TMC
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 64, 75, 85, 86, 91-93, 95, 99)
6.      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 goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 65, 66)
7.      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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 76, 77, 87, 88)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Transformers Manufacturing Company Pty Ltd to pay the costs.
1 OJ C 207, 23.5.2022.