62021TJ0437_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 19 October 2022 –Greenwich Polo Club v EUIPO – Lifestyle Equities (GREENWICH POLO CLUB)
(Case T‑437/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark GREENWICH POLO CLUB – Earlier EU word mark BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Scope of the examination to be carried out by the Board of Appeal – Article 71 of Regulation 2017/1001 – Article 27(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625)
1.
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Claim seeking that directions be issued to an institution – Inadmissibility
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraph 13)
2.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Alteration of a decision of EUIPO – Assessment in the light of the powers conferred on the Board of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))
(see paragraph 14)
3.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision of a unit of EUIPO ruling at first instance and referred to the Board of Appeal – Functional continuity between those two bodies – Examination of the appeal by the Board of Appeal – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 71(1))
(see paragraph 20)
4.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Opposition proceedings – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Examination of a legal question of EUIPO’s own motion – Condition
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))
(see paragraphs 22, 24)
5.
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 paragraphs 23, 33, 34, 82, 83)
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 – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 38, 39)
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 – Figurative mark GREENWICH POLO CLUB and word mark BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 51, 61, 81, 98)
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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 52, 53)
9.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraph 79)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Coexistence of earlier marks on the market – Effect
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraph 96)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Greenwich Polo Club, Inc. to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 401, 4.10.2021.