Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 18 January 2023 –  
YAplus DBA Yoga Alliance v EUIPO – Vidyanand (YOGA ALLIANCE INDIA INTERNATIONAL)

(Case T‑443/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0443_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark YOGA ALLIANCE INDIA INTERNATIONAL – Earlier EU figurative mark yoga ALLIANCE – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Examination of the facts by EUIPO of its own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Opposition proceedings – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paragraphs 19, 25) |

| 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 34, 108-110, 119, 121) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Refusal to register where there is a relative ground for refusal, even if limited to part of the Union  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 33) |

| 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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 40) |

| 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 YOGA ALLIANCE INDIA INTERNATIONAL and yoga ALLIANCE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 48-50, 76, 88, 94, 103, 113, 122, 123) |

| 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 – 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 58, 59, 68-71) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders YAplus DBA Yoga Alliance to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0443_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 368, 13.9.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:368:TOC).

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