Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 27 October 2021 –  
Jiruš v EUIPO – Nile Clothing (Racing Syndicate)

(Case T‑356/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Racing Syndicate – Earlier international word mark SYNDICATE – Submission of evidence for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – Limits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))  (see paras 23-25) |

| 2. | 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 – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))  (see paras 33, 34, 76) |

| 3. | 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 between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))  (see paras 38, 47) |

| 4. | 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 – Composite mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))  (see paras 55, 56, 62) |

| 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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))  (see para. 61) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative mark Racing Syndicate and word mark SYNDICATE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))  (see paras 77-80) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 31 March 2020 (Case R 1488/2019-5), relating to invalidity proceedings between Nile Clothing and Mr Jiruš.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Václav Jiruš to pay the costs. |

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