Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 19 June 2019 –  
L’Oréal v EUIPO — Guinot (MASTER SMOKY)

(Case T‑179/16 RENV)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark MASTER SMOKY — Earlier national figurative mark MASTERS COLORS PARIS — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 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 37, 38, 43, 77, 81, 82, 84, 87, 89) |

| 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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment — Composite mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 42, 60) |

| 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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Assessment only on the basis of the dominant element of a complex mark — Conditions  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 44, 45, 49, 58) |

| 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 — Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark — Effect  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 55) |

| 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 — Word mark MASTER SMOKY and figurative mark MASTERS COLORS PARIS  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 63, 66, 67, 76, 91) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO's previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality — Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 90) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 February 2016 (Case R 2905/2014-5) relating to opposition proceedings between Guinot and L’Oréal.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders L’Oréal to pay the costs. |

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