Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 4 September 2024 –  
Galenica v EUIPO – EvivaMed Distribution (VIVORA)

(Case T‑373/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0373_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark VIVORA – Earlier word mark VERFORA – Partial rejection of the opposition – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Interdependence – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 20, 21, 25) |

| 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 30, 31, 44, 45, 47, 49) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks VIVORA and VERFORA  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 37, 50, 52, 53) |

| 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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Consideration of marketing circumstances – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 46) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Galenica AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by EvivaMed Distribution GmbH; |

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

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0373_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 296, 21.8.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:296:TOC).

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