Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 26 July 2023 –  
Topas v EUIPO – Tarczyński (VEGE STORY)

(Case T‑434/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0434_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark VEGE STORY – Earlier EU word mark végé’ – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) 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 – Not included  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 72(2) and 95)  (see paragraphs 15, 16) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 21, 51-53) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Earlier trade mark constituted by an EU trade 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 22) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – 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 25, 30) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier mark registered in respect of identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks VEGE STORY and végé’  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 38, 42, 46, 47, 49, 50, 60, 62) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Topas GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Tarczyński S.A.; |

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

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0434_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 326, 29.8.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:326:TOC).

[Top](#document1)