Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 15 February 2023 –  
Topcart v EUIPO – Carl International (TC CARL)

(Case T‑8/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0008_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark TC CARL – Earlier national figurative mark carl touch – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Not included  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 14) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 17-19, 88) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 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 between the goods or services in question – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 26) |

| 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 – Figurative marks TC CARL and carl touch  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 27-29, 41-44, 48, 62-65, 68, 72, 73, 75, 76, 89-93) |

| 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 registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 38-40, 46, 47, 60, 61) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 78) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Topcart GmbH to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0008_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 84, 21.2.2022.](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:084:TOC)

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