Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 4 May 2017 —  
Haw Par v EUIPO — Cosmowell (GELENKGOLD)

(Case T‑25/16)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative mark GELENKGOLD — Earlier EU figurative mark representing a tiger — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of the signs — Force of res judicata — Enhanced distinctive character of the earlier mark acquired through use — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Right to be heard — Second sentence of Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Series of marks)

| 1. | 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 — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 23-25) |

| 2. | Actions for annulment — Judgment annulling a measure — Scope — Absolute authority of res judicata — Scope — Both operative part and grounds to be taken into account  (Arts 264 TFEU and 266 TFEU)  (see paras 29, 33, 34, 42-46) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Implementation of a judgment annulling a decision adopted by a Board of Appeal — New examination of the appeal — Observance of the rights of the defence  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, second sentence)  (see paras 54-57) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal brought against a decision of a unit of the Office ruling at first instance and referred to the Board of Appeal — Functional continuity between those two bodies — Examination of the appeal by the Board of Appeal — Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 64(1))  (see para. 66) |

| 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 — Likelihood of association — Earlier trade marks showing characteristics enabling them to be regarded as forming part of the same ‘series’ or ‘family’ — Conditions  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 68, 74-76) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Registration procedure — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier marks capable of constituting a family of marks — Actual use — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2))  (see paras 79, 80) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 November 2015 (Case R 1907/2015-1) concerning opposition proceedings between Haw Par and Cosmowell.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Haw Par Corp. Ltd to bear the costs. |

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