Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 6 November 2024 –  
W.L. Gore & Associates v EUIPO – Angiokard med. Spritzguß (Cardioflow)

(Case T‑1146/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ1146_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark Cardioflow – Earlier EU word mark CARDIOFORM – Relative ground for refusal – 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 14, 15, 71, 75-78, 86, 87) |

| 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 – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services – Medical equipment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 34) |

| 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 – Word marks Cardioflow and CARDIOFORM  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 51, 59, 62, 65, 66, 73, 84, 85) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 36) |

| 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 – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 42-47) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

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

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ1146_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 977, 29.1.2024](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2024:977:TOC).

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