Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 11 October 2023 –  
Martin Rodrigo v EUIPO – Louis Vuitton Malletier (CALIFORNIA Dreaming by Made in California)

(Case T‑542/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0542_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark CALIFORNIA Dreaming by Made in California – Earlier Benelux word mark CALIFORNIA DREAM – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – 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 – Alteration of a decision of EUIPO – Assessment in the light of the powers conferred on the Board of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see paragraphs 13, 14) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 19, 20, 78) |

| 3. | 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 – Review of the legal classification given to the facts of the dispute – Review of the assessment by the Board of Appeal of the likelihood of confusion – Findings not challenged as regards the factors that are essential to the analysis of that likelihood of confusion – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraphs 32, 33) |

| 4. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark CALIFORNIA Dreaming by Made in California and word mark CALIFORNIA DREAM  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 51, 61, 68, 77, 83) |

| 6. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 52, 59, 66, 72, 75) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Andres Carlos Martin Rodrigo to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by Louis Vuitton Malletier; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0542_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 408, 24.10.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:408:TOC).

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