Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 15 November 2023 –  
Portal Golf Gestión v EUIPO – Augusta National (imaster.golf)

(Case T‑677/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0677_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark imaster.golf – International registration of the earlier word mark MASTERS – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Repute – Similarity – Link – Unfair advantage – Lack of due cause – Article 95(2) 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 earlier identical or similar mark enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Detriment to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 16, 17, 20-23, 125-128) |

| 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 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 31, 32) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Coexistence of earlier marks – Recognition of an international mark as having a certain degree of distinctiveness  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 54-56) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 75, 76, 78, 85, 90, 102) |

| 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 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 110, 111) |

| 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 – Figurative mark imaster.golf and word mark MASTERS  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 130-133) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Portal Golf Gestión, SA to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Augusta National, Inc.; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0677_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 15, 16.1.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:015:TOC).

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