62024TO0374_INF
Order of the General Court (First Chamber) of 20 May 2025 –AirPlus International v EUIPO – Comeig Ramírez (R+ CASHLAB)
(Case T‑374/24)
(Action for annulment – EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark R+ CASHLAB – Earlier EU word marks AirPlus International, AirPlus Connect and AirPlus Travel Expense Card and earlier EU figurative mark AirPlus INTERNATIONAL – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Well-known facts – Refusal of the request for oral proceedings before the Board of Appeal – Article 96(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
1.
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); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(2))
(see paragraphs 19, 21)
2.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge – None – Dispute before the General Court
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))
(see paragraphs 20, 23)
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 – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 31, 33, 46)
4.
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 – Level of attention of the public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraph 32)
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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Determination of the dominant element or elements
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 34, 35, 40, 42)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark R+ CASHLAB – Word marks AirPlus International, AirPlus Connect and AirPlus Travel Expense Card and figurative mark AirPlus INTERNATIONAL
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 38, 39, 43, 44, 47-50)
7.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Recourse to the oral procedure – Discretion of the Office
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 96(1))
(see paragraph 53)
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed.
2.
AirPlus International GmbH and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shall each bear their own costs.