Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 20 March 2024 –  
Braunschweiger Versorgungs v EUIPO – B.F. Energy (BF energy)

(Case T‑245/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0245_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark BF energy – Earlier national word mark BS Energy – Earlier EU trade mark and national figurative marks BS ENERGY – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | 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 14, 15, 74-76) |

| 2. | 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 16) |

| 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 – 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 25, 26, 35, 36, 41) |

| 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 – Figurative mark BF energy – Word and figurative marks BS Energy and BS ENERGY  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 42-44, 54, 60, 66, 77-81) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see paragraph 84) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders each party to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0245_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 235, 3.7.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:235:TOC).

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