Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 14 September 2022 –  
Gioioso v EUIPO – Maxi Di (MARE GIOIOSO di Sebastiano IMPORT EXPORT)

(Case T‑423/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0423_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark MARE GIOIOSO di Sebastiano IMPORT EXPORT – Earlier national figurative mark GIOIA DI MARE – 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 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 paragraphs 17, 18, 98, 102) |

| 2. | 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 – Refusal to register where there is a relative ground for refusal, even if limited to part of the Union  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 19) |

| 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 – 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 paragraphs 21, 31) |

| 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 – Objective marketing considerations to be taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 28) |

| 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 – Figurative marks MARE GIOIOSO di Sebastiano IMPORT EXPORT and GIOIA DI MARE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 57, 77, 97, 109) |

| 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 between the goods or services in question – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 34, 45, 52) |

| 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 – Composite mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 58-60, 70, 73) |

| 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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Elements of a trade mark having a descriptive character  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 71) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Sebastiano Gioioso to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0423_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 357, 6.9.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:357:TOC).

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