Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 29 March 2023 –  
Plusmusic v EUIPO – Groupe Canal + (+music)

(Case T‑344/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0344_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark +music – Earlier national figurative mark + – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark acquired through use)

| 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 – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 18, 20, 25, 33, 62) |

| 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 – Figurative marks +music and +  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 28, 37, 41, 46, 47, 63, 66) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Determination of the dominant element or elements  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 40) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see paragraph 60) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 16 April 2021 (Case R 1236/2020-5) in so far as it found that there was a likelihood of confusion in respect of the goods and services in Classes 11, 25, 35, 37 and 42; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |

| 3. | Orders Plusmusic AG, EUIPO and Groupe Canal + to bear their own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0344_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 329, 16.8.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:329:TOC).

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