62021TJ0219_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 6 April 2022 –Agora Invest v EUIPO – Transportes Maquinaria y Obras (TRAMOSA)
(Case T‑219/21) (
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)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark TRAMOSA – Earlier EU figurative mark TRAMO_SA TRANSPORTE MAQUINARIA Y OBRAS_S.A. – 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) – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 15(1), second subparagraph, point (a) and Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 18(1), second subparagraph, point (a) and Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001) – Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character)
1.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and material scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para. (a) and 42(2) and (3))
(see paras 22-24)
2.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account
(Council Regulation No 207/2009)
(see para. 41)
3.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria
(Council Regulation No 207/2009)
(see para. 45)
4.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3))
(see paras 50-53, 56, 57)
5.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Application of the criteria to the case in question
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 43(2) and (3))
(see paras 54, 55)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 74, 75, 119)
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 – 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 paras 76-78)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative marks TRAMOSA and TRAMO_SA TRANSPORTE MAQUINARIA Y OBRAS_S.A.
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 84, 92, 99, 124, 125)
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 between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 85)
10.
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 – 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 paras 93, 95-98)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Agora Invest, SA to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 228, 14.6.2021.