Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 15 May 2024 –  
Pfriem v EUIPO – U-Control (UC)

(Case T‑316/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0316_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark UC – Earlier EU figurative mark UC – Right to be heard – Principle of impartiality – Extent of the examination to be carried out by the Board of Appeal – Article 27(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625 – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights – Right to good administration – Right to be heard – Scope  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a))  (see paragraph 17) |

| 2. | Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights – Right to good administration – Requirement of impartiality – Meaning  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1))  (see paragraphs 23, 24) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal against a decision of the Opposition Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Examination of EUIPO’s own motion of pleas relating to essential procedural requirements – Whether permissible  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(2))  (see paragraphs 25-27) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 41, 42) |

| 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 – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 43-46) |

| 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 marks UC  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 49, 51, 53, 54, 56) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Hanns Pfriem, in addition to bearing his own costs, to pay those incurred by U-Control Srl; |

| 3. | Declares that the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shall bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0316_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 261, 24.7.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:261:TOC).

[Top](#document1)