Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 11 December 2024 –  
Meica v EUIPO – Lénárd (CHIPSY KINGS)

(Case T‑157/24)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark CHIPSY KINGS – International registration of the earlier word mark Curry King – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 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 16-18, 60-62, 66) |

| 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 – 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 paragraph 19) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 29-31, 34) |

| 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 marks concerned – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 32) |

| 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 marks concerned – Elements of a trade mark having a descriptive character  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 33, 38) |

| 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 – Word marks CHIPSY KINGS and Curry King  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 47, 52, 57-59, 68-70) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Duty of diligence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paragraph 76) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Meica Ammerländische Fleischwarenfabrik Fritz Meinen GmbH & Co. KG and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear their own costs. |

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