Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 19 October 2017 – Leopard v EUIPO – Smart Market (LEOPARD true racing)

(Case T-7/15)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for figurative EU trade mark LEOPARD true racing — Prior figurative EU trade mark leopard CASA Y JARDIN — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark–Appeals procedure–Action before the EU judicature–Jurisdiction of the General Court–Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal–Annulment or variation for reasons appearing after judgment was delivered–Not included–Taking into account the EUIPO decision revoking the earlier mark which formed the basis for the opposition, adopted subsequent to the decision of the Board of Appeal on the opposition–Not permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 55(1) and 65(2))  (see paras 21, 22) |

| 2. | EU trade mark–Appeals procedure–Action before the EU judicature–Jurisdiction of the General Court–Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal–Scope–Limits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(2) and (3))  (see para. 25) |

| 3. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 31, 77, 78) |

| 4. | 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–Figurative marks LEOPARD true racing and leopard CASA Y JARDIN  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 32, 48, 76, 82-87) |

| 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–Similarity between the goods or services in question–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 33, 38, 44) |

| 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–Similarity of the marks concerned–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 51-53, 68) |

Application for

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 October 2014 (Case R 1866/2013-1) concerning opposition proceedings between Smart Market and Leopard.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Leopard SA to pay the costs. |

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