Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 15 October 2020 –  
Laboratorios Ern v EUIPO – Bio-tec Biologische Naturverpackungen (BIOPLAST BIOPLASTICS FOR A BETTER LIFE)

(Case T‑2/20)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark BIOPLAST BIOPLASTICS FOR A BETTER LIFE – Earlier national word mark BIOPLAK – Relative ground for refusal – No 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 earlier identical or similar 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, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 15, 16, 69, 70, 79) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark BIOPLAST BIOPLASTICS FOR A BETTER LIFE and word mark BIOPLAK  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 17, 30, 35, 36, 49, 56, 67, 68, 71, 80) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 20, 21, 29) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 37, 38, 62) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Likelihood of association – Earlier marks exhibiting characteristics enabling them to be regarded as forming part of the same series or family – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 77, 78) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see para. 81) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 10 October 2019 (Case R 418/2019-5), relating to opposition proceedings between Laboratorios Ern and Bio-tec Biologische Naturverpackungen.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Laboratorios Ern, SA to pay the costs. |

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