Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 28 May 2020 –  
Martínez Albainox v EUIPO – Taser International (TASER)

(Case T‑341/19)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark TASER – Earlier EU word marks TASER – Relative grounds for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Detriment to reputation – Unfair advantage taken of the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark – Article 8(5) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | 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 paras 20, 21) |

| 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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paras 22-24) |

| 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 – Earlier trade mark constituted by an EU trade mark – Refusal to register where there is a relative ground for refusal, even if limited to part of the Union  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see para. 28) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an earlier identical or similar mark enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(5) and 60(1)(a))  (see para. 37) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an earlier identical or similar mark enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Condition – Link between the marks – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(5) and 60(1)(a))  (see paras 38-43, 55, 63) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an earlier identical or similar mark enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(5) and 60(1)(a))  (see paras 44, 45) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 20 March 2019 (Case R 1577/2018-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Taser International and Martínez Albainox.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Martínez Albainox, SL to pay the costs. |

[Top](#document1)