Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 6 November 2024 –  
CFA Institute v EUIPO – Global Chartered Controller Institute (CCA CHARTERED CONTROLLER ANALYST CERTIFICATE)

(Case T‑561/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0561_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark CCA CHARTERED CONTROLLER ANALYST CERTIFICATE – Earlier EU word mark CFA and earlier EU figurative mark CFA CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – New decision taken following annulment in part of an earlier decision by the Court – Scope of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal – Res judicata)

| 1. | Action for annulment – Judgment annulling a measure – Effects – Obligation to adopt implementing measures – Scope – Both the operative part and the grounds of the judgment to be taken into account – Retroactive effect of annulment  (Art. 266 TFEU)  (see paragraphs 35, 36, 39) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 64, 65, 163-166) |

| 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 – Similarity between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 70) |

| 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 between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 83-85, 91, 99-101) |

| 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 – Figurative mark CCA CHARTERED CONTROLLER ANALYST CERTIFICATE – Word mark CFA and figurative mark CFA CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 95, 110, 118-120, 139, 151, 171-177) |

| 6. | 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 – Criteria for assessment – Taking into consideration relevant evidence to establish reputation  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 146-148) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see paragraph 185) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls in part the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 9 June 2022 (Case R 1660/2021-2) in so far as it rejected again the opposition as regards the ‘office functions’ services in Class 35 and those of ‘entertainment; sporting and cultural activities’ in Class 41; |

| 2. | Annuls in part and alters the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 June 2022 (Case R 1660/2021-2) in that it upholds the opposition to registration of the figurative mark CCA CHARTERED CONTROLLER ANALYST CERTIFICATE as an EU trade mark as regards the ‘education; providing of training’ services in Class 41 and dismisses the application for registration of that mark as regards those services; |

| 3. | Dismisses the main action and the cross-claim as to the remainder; |

| 4. | Orders each party to bear its own costs, including those incurred before the Board of Appeal. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0561_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 418, 31.10.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:418:TOC).

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