Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 3 May 2023 –  
Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi v EUIPO – M. J. Dairies (BBQLOUMI)

(Case T‑106/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0106_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark BBQLOUMI – Earlier EU collective word mark HALLOUMI – Relative grounds for invalidity – Likelihood of confusion – Detriment to reputation – Article 8(1)(b), Article 8(5) and Article 53(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b), Article 8(5) and Article 60(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier collective 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, Arts 8(1)(b), 60(1)(a) and 74(1))  (see paragraphs 22-24, 64) |

| 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 – Review of the legal classification given to the facts of the dispute  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paragraph 34) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier collective mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word mark BBQLOUMI and collective word mark HALLOUMI  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b), 60(1)(a) and 74(1))  (see paragraphs 36, 38, 40, 45, 53, 63, 81) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier collective mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Distinctive character of earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and (3), 8(1)(b), 60(1)(a) and 74(2))  (see paragraphs 46-48, 73) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier 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, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 59, 70, 72) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(1)(b) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 67, 68) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an earlier identical or similar mark enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or in the European Union – Evidence in support of the reputation  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(5) and 60(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 84, 87) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0106_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 165, 19.4.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:165:TOC).

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