Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 9 November 2022 –  
Société Elmar Wolf v EUIPO – Fuxtec (Representation of the head of an animal)

(Case T‑596/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0596_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark representing a head – Earlier national figurative mark representing the head of a canine – Earlier international registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark representing the head of a canine – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 15) |

| 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 19, 20, 51, 53, 54, 58) |

| 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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 28-30, 45) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark representing a head and figurative mark representing the head of a canine  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 39, 41, 46, 47, 59, 63, 67) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Registration of a new trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 76(1))  (see paragraph 55) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 65) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Société Elmar Wolf, since it has been unsuccessful, to pay the costs, in accordance with the form of order sought by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0596_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 462, 15.11.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:462:TOC).

[Top](#document1)