Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 6 March 2019 –  
Serenity Pharmaceuticals v EUIPO — Gebro Holding (NOCUVANT)

(Case T‑321/18)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark NOCUVANT — Earlier word marks NOCUTIL — Proof of genuine use — Article 47(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of the signs — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Actions before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it — Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see para. 21) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Interpretation taking account of the rationale of Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2) and (3))  (see paras 28, 49) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment — Requirement of solid and objective evidence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2))  (see paras 29-32, 45, 50) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Application of the criteria to the case in question — Determination of a minimal quantitative use threshold — Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2))  (see paras 33, 50) |

| 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 — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 58, 59, 78-80) |

| 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 — Assessment of the likelihood of confusion — Determination of the relevant public — Attention level of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 60, 63) |

| 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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 65, 70) |

| 8. | 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 NOCUVANT and NOCUTIL  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 69, 71-75, 77, 81-83) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 March 2018 (Case R 584/2017-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Gebro Holding and Allergan, Inc.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Serenity Pharmaceuticals LLC to pay the costs. |

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