Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 8 March 2023 –  
Sympatex Technologies v EUIPO – Liwe Española (Sympathy Inside)

(Case T‑372/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0372_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark Sympathy Inside – Earlier EU word mark INSIDE. – 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) – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 18(1) of Regulation 2017/1001) – No alteration of distinctive character)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use of the mark in a form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and material scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second subpara., (a), and 42(2))  (see paragraphs 20-22, 27, 33, 37) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Need to determine that question, once raised by the applicant before the decision on the opposition – Consequence  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2))  (see paragraphs 50, 51) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Opposition proceedings – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Examination of a legal question of EUIPO’s own motion – Condition  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95)  (see paragraph 54) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3))  (see paragraphs 55, 66) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Decision of an EUIPO unit forming part of the context of the decision of the Board of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraphs 59, 60) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1))  (see paragraph 61) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 76-78, 126, 133, 134) |

| 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 Sympathy Inside and INSIDE.  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 87, 90, 103, 108, 116, 125, 131, 140, 143) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 88, 115) |

| 10. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 95-97, 107) |

| 11. | 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 – Account taken by the General Court of matters of law and fact not previously raised before the departments of EUIPO – Not included  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 142) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Sympatex Technologies GmbH to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0372_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 329, 16.8.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:329:TOC).

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