Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 29 January 2025 –  
Desimo v EUIPO – Dulces y conservas Helios (ELIOS)

(Case T‑607/23)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark ELIOS – Earlier EU word mark HELIOS and earlier national figurative mark HELIOS – Relative grounds for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Damage to reputation – Article 8(5) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Cross-claim)

| 1. | Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Request that directions be issued to an institution – Not included  (Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 72(3))  (see paragraphs 20, 21) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 27, 28) |

| 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 – Composite mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 35, 36, 43) |

| 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 – Figurative mark ELIOS – Word and figurative marks HELIOS  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 46, 66, 72, 78, 88, 93-95) |

| 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 – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 49, 50, 69, 85, 91) |

| 6. | 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or in the European Union – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 103, 114) |

| 7. | 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Similarity between the marks concerned – Degree of similarity required  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraph 109) |

| 8. | 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or in the European Union – Evidence in support of the reputation – Burden of proof  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 115, 119, 121) |

| 9. | 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Figurative mark ELIOS – Word and figurative marks HELIOS  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 124, 135, 155, 163) |

| 10. | 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 128-130, 150) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 17 July 2023 (Joined Cases R 1826/2022‑5 and R 1833/2022‑5) in so far as it dismissed the appeal filed by the intervener in relation to the ‘sowing seeds’, ‘pet food’ and ‘cat litter’ in Class 31 covered by the mark applied for; |

| 2. | Dismisses the main action; |

| 3. | Dismisses the cross-claim as to the remainder; |

| 4. | Orders Desimo, Lda to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Dulces y conservas Helios, SA relating to the main action; |

| 5. | Orders Dulces y conservas Helios and Desimo to bear their own costs relating to the cross-claim; |

| 6. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs. |

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