Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 8 March 2023 –  
Société des produits Nestlé v EUIPO – The a2 Milk Company (A 2)

(Case T‑759/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0759_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark A 2 – Earlier international registration – Figurative mark THE a2 MILK COMPANY THE a2 MILK COMPANY – Relative ground for refusal – 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 18, 61) |

| 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 – Refusal to register where there is a relative ground for refusal, even if limited to part of the Union  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 19) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative marks A 2 and THE a2 MILK COMPANY THE a2 MILK COMPANY  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 34, 50, 57-60, 66-68, 70, 71) |

| 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 – 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 36, 51) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Société des produits Nestlé SA to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0759_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 37, 24.1.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:037:TOC).

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