Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 17 April 2024 –  
Unilab v EUIPO – Cofares (Healthily)

(Case T‑288/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0288_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark Healthily – Earlier EU figurative mark Healthies – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Legitimate expectations)

| 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 paragraph 13) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1))  (see paragraphs 18, 19, 39) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 27-29, 77) |

| 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 – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32-35) |

| 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 marks Healthily and Healthies  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 43, 46, 56, 63, 67, 72, 78, 79) |

| 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 – Composite mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 44, 45, 61, 71) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 82, 83) |

| 8. | EU law – Principles – Protection of legitimate expectations – Conditions  (see paragraphs 85, 86) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Unilab LP and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear their own respective costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0288_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 252, 17.7.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:252:TOC).

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