Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 3 May 2023 – Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi v EUIPO – Fontana Food (GRILLOUMI)

(Case T‑168/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0168_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark GRILLOUMI – Earlier EU collective word mark HALLOUMI – Relative grounds for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Detriment to reputation – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 8(5) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) and Article 8(5) 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 collective trade mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 66(1))  (see paragraphs 27-29, 60) |

| 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 – Word mark GRILLOUMI and collective word mark HALLOUMI  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 34, 47, 59, 75) |

| 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 collective trade mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Distinctive character of earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b) and 66(2))  (see paragraphs 35-37, 69) |

| 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 42, 65, 68) |

| 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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 48) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or in the European Union – Evidence in support of the reputation  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 77, 83) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Boards of Appeal – Classification as administration of the Office – Right of the parties to a fair trial – None  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 61 to 64)  (see paragraph 79) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0168_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 207, 23.5.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:207:TOC).

[Top](#document1)