Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 12 July 2023 –  
mBank v EUIPO – European Merchant Bank (EMBANK European Merchant Bank)

(Case T‑261/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0261_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark EMBANK European Merchant Bank – Earlier EU figurative mark mBank – Earlier national word mark mBank – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 60(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 95(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Article 27(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625 – Document submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – Limits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))  (see paragraphs 20-26) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 31, 32) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier 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, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 55, 56, 124, 125, 136) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 57, 90, 101-103, 109, 112) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier 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 – Financial and banking services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 59, 63, 64, 130) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative marks EMBANK European Merchant Bank and mBank  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 68, 93, 99, 113, 120, 132, 143, 145) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 141) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders mBank S.A. to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0261_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 257, 4.7.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:257:TOC).

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