62021TJ0155_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 7 September 2022 –Völkl v EUIPO – Marker Dalbello Völkl (International) (Völkl)
(Case T‑155/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Völkl – Earlier EU word mark Völkl – Earlier EU word mark VÖLKL – Relative ground for invalidity – No likelihood of confusion – No similarity between the goods – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 8(1)(b) and Article 60(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Lodging of application for EU trade mark – Identification of the goods or services concerned by the trade mark – Requirements of clarity and precision – Determination, by the competent authorities and the economic operators, of the extent of the protection conferred by the trade mark
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 26(1)(c); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 2(2))
(see paragraphs 16, 17)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 24, 25)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier 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 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 26-28, 39)
4.
EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Previous decision-making practice of the Office
(Council Regulation No 40/94)
(see paragraph 32)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark Völkl and word mark VÖLKL
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 41, 52, 59, 61)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 45, 54, 57)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Völkl GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 182, 10.5.2021.