Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 20 December 2023 –  
Pierre Balmain v EUIPO – Story Time (Representation of a lion’s head encircled by rings forming a chain)

(Case T‑564/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0564_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for an EU figurative mark representing a lion’s head encircled by rings forming a chain – Earlier national figurative mark representing a lion’s head encircled by dots – Relative ground for refusal – Distinctive character of the earlier mark – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Procedural role of EUIPO – Right of EUIPO, although designated as the defendant, to support the applicant’s claims  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 172)  (see paragraph 12) |

| 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 21, 22, 70, 73, 77-79) |

| 3. | 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 – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 23, 46, 47, 57, 64) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Level of attention of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 29, 30, 32-34) |

| 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 – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 31, 37) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark representing a lion’s head encircled by rings forming a chain and figurative mark representing a lion’s head encircled by dots  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 36, 50, 51, 61, 67, 75, 86, 89) |

| 7. | 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 – Weighing elements of similarity or difference between the signs – Taking into account of the intrinsic characteristics of the signs or the conditions in which the goods or services are marketed – Clothing sector  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 84) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 21 June 2022 (Case R 96/2022-4); |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Pierre Balmain. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0564_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 424, 7.11.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:424:TOC).

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