Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 1 March 2023 –  
Canai Technology v EUIPO – Trend Fin (HE&ME)

(Case T‑25/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0025_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark HE&ME – Earlier Benelux word mark ME – Relative ground for refusal – Similarity of the signs – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Likelihood of confusion – 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 17, 18, 70) |

| 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 – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 24-27, 44) |

| 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 – Elements of a trade mark having a descriptive character  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 36) |

| 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 – Figurative mark HE&ME and word mark ME  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 43, 65, 69, 78-80, 82) |

| 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 76, 77) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 81) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Canai Technology Co. Ltd to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0025_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 95, 28.2.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:095:TOC).

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