Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 24 January 2024 –  
Tiendanimal v EUIPO – Salvana Tiernahrung (SALVAJE)

(Case T‑55/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0055_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark SALVAJE – Earlier national word mark SALVANA – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Condition of admissibility – Pleas directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Direction issued to the EUIPO – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see paragraph 25) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Meaning – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3))  (see paragraphs 34-39, 46) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Level of attention of the public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 67, 124) |

| 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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 78, 79, 81, 89, 91, 97, 98, 126) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark SALVAJE and word mark SALVANA  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 122, 123, 125, 127) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment –Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 131, 132) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Tiendanimal Comercio Electronico de Articulos para Mascotas, SL, in addition to bearing its own costs, to pay those incurred by Salvana Tiernahrung GmbH; |

| 3. | Declares that the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shall bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0055_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 112, 27.3.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:112:TOC).

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