Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 12 June 2024 –  
Société du Tour de France v EUIPO – FitX (TOUR DE X)

(Case T‑604/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0604_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark TOUR DE X – Earlier national word mark and earlier international registration of a figurative mark TOUR DE FRANCE – Earlier EU and national word marks LE TOUR DE FRANCE – Earlier EU figurative mark LE TOUR DE FRANCE – Relative grounds for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – No damage to reputation – Article 8(5) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 8(5) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | 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 – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 20, 21, 52, 60) |

| 2. | 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 24, 25, 33, 36, 49) |

| 3. | 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 TOUR DE X – Word mark TOUR DE FRANCE – Word mark LE TOUR DE FRANCE – Figurative mark LE TOUR DE FRANCE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 37, 42-45, 51, 65, 83, 84) |

| 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 61) |

| 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 – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment – Detriment to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraph 70) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 90, 91) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Société du Tour de France to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0604_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 432, 14.11.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:432:TOC).

[Top](#document1)