Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 12 July 2023 –  
Innovaciones Cosmético Farmacéuticas v EUIPO – Benito Oliver (th pharma)

(Case T‑27/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0027_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark TH PHARMA – Earlier national figurative mark TH – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2) and (3); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3) and (4))  (see paragraphs 19-21, 23, 32, 33, 39) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Probative value of the evidence – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2) and (3))  (see paragraphs 49, 51) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use during a five year period – Consideration of evidence concerning use outside of that period  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2) and (3))  (see paragraph 62) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use of the mark in a form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and material scope of Article 18(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 47(2) and (3))  (see paragraphs 69-71) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 82, 83, 130) |

| 6. | 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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 88, 89, 100, 104, 110, 112, 125) |

| 7. | 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 marks TH PHARMA and TH  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 98, 101, 106, 115, 121, 129, 137, 139) |

| 8. | 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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Whether conceptual differences may neutralise visual or aural similarities – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 136) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Innovaciones Cosmético Farmacéuticas SL to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0027_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 109, 7.3.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:109:TOC).

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