Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 26 July 2023 –  
Worldwide Brands and Guangdong Camel Apparel v EUIPO –  
Guangdong Camel Apparel and Worldwide Brands (CAMEL CROWN)

(Joined Cases T‑562/21 and T‑590/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0562_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark CAMEL CROWN – International registration of the earlier figurative mark camel active – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) 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 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 24, 25, 126) |

| 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 – 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, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 26) |

| 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 goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 36, 37, 57, 58) |

| 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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 93, 94, 110, 111) |

| 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 – Word mark CAMEL CROWN and figurative mark camel active  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 128, 129) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 131) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the actions in Cases T‑562/21 and T‑590/21; |

| 2. | In Case T‑562/21, orders Worldwide Brands, Inc. Zweigniederlassung Deutschland to pay the costs; |

| 3. | In Case T‑590/21, orders Guangdong Camel Apparel Co. Ltd to pay the costs, including those incurred for the purposes of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal in Case R 159/2020‑5. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0562_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 462, 15.11.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:462:TOC).

[Top](#document1)