Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 28 June 2023 –  
Hofmeir Magnetics v EUIPO – Healthfactories (Hofmag)

(Case T‑452/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0452_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark Hofmag – Earlier non-registered word mark HOFMAG – Relative ground for refusal – No use in the course of trade of a sign of more than mere local significance – Article 8(4) and Article 60(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 22) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4))  (see paragraph 26) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Local scope of sign – Means of proof  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4))  (see paragraphs 28, 29) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Use of the sign in trade – Temporal criterion  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4))  (see paragraph 30) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Opposition proceedings – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Obligation on the parties to provide facts and evidence in support  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paragraphs 34, 56) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Word mark Hofmag and unregistered mark HOFMAG  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4))  (see paragraphs 40, 47, 49-52, 67) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Hofmeir Magnetics Ltd to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Healthfactories GmbH; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0452_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 340, 5.9.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:340:TOC).

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