Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 29 March 2023 –  
Machková v EUIPO – Aceites Almenara (ALMARA SOAP)

(Case T‑436/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0436_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark ALMARA SOAP – Earlier EU word mark ALMENARA – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Proof of genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 47(2) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Direction issued to the Office – Precluded  (Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(6))  (see paragraph 12) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Not included  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 14) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2))  (see paragraph 20) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 26-28, 95, 96) |

| 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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 29) |

| 6. | 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 between the goods or services in question – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 35, 36) |

| 7. | 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 ALMARA SOAP and word mark ALMENARA  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 51, 71, 80, 88, 94, 100, 101) |

| 8. | 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 56-59, 78, 84) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Ms Veronika Machková and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to each bear their own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0436_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 340, 5.9.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:340:TOC).

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