Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 9 September 2020 –  
Kludi v EUIPO – Adlon Brand (ADLON)

(Case T‑144/19)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark ADLON – Earlier EU word mark ADLON – Proof of the reputation of the earlier mark – Rule 19 of Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 (now Article 7 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625) – Temporal application of the law – Late submission of documents – Board of Appeal’s discretion – Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Relative ground for refusal – Damage to reputation – Article 8(5) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Unfair advantage taken of the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark)

| 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 – Account taken by the General Court of matters of law and fact not previously raised before the departments of EUIPO – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188)  (see paras 18, 19) |

| 2. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Clear and precise statement of the pleas relied on – Flexible interpretation  (see para. 28) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in time – Account taken – Power of assessment of EUIPO  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 19(2))  (see paras 44-48, 52, 56, 59, 65) |

| 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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Aim – Proof to be adduced by proprietor – Future, non-hypothetical risk of unfair advantage or damage  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see para. 73) |

| 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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see para. 74) |

| 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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or the EU – Meaning – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 83-85, 99, 104, 126) |

| 7. | 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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services –Word marks ADLON and ADLON  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 107, 143, 167, 172, 179, 180) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Probative value of the evidence – Solemn declarations  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 97(1)(f))  (see para. 119) |

| 9. | 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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 153-156, 161, 162) |

| 10. | 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 – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 168, 169) |

| 11. | EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Rights conferred by a trade mark – Right to prohibit the use of the mark – Use of an identical or similar sign covering identical or similar products or services – Likelihood of confusion with the mark – Peaceful coexistence between an EU mark with a reputation and a sign in part of the European Union – Absence of such peaceful coexistence in another part of the European Union – Existence of due course legitimising the use of that sign – None  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 9(2)(c))  (see paras 176, 177) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 November 2018 (Case R 1500/2018-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Adlon Brand and Kludi.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Kludi GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

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