Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 2 March 2022 –Fidia farmaceutici v EUIPO – Giuliani (IALO TSP)
(Case T‑333/20) (1)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark IALO TSP – Earlier international word mark HYALO – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Identification of a member of the Board of Appeal – Article 165(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Condition of admissibility – Grounds of appeal directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))
(see para. 34)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 40-43, 48, 67, 100-102)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Coexistence of earlier marks – Acknowledgement of a certain degree of distinctive character of an international trade mark designating the European Union
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 54)
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 – Conceptual similarity
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 66, 68, 90, 91)
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 – Word marks IALO TSP and HYALO
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 94, 95, 106, 107, 123)
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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Whether conceptual differences may neutralise visual or aural similarities – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 118)
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 – Weighing elements of similarity or difference between the signs – Taking into account of the intrinsic characteristics of the signs or the conditions in which the goods or services are marketed
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 119)
8.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paras 128-131)
9.      EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case
(see paras 135, 136)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Fidia farmaceutici SpA to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);
3.
Orders Giuliani SpA to bear its own costs.
1 OJ C 255, 3.8.2020.