Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 22 January 2025 –  
Rain Carbon Germany v EUIPO – Novaresine (NOVARESINE INNOVATION GOES GREEN)

(Case T‑1188/23)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark NOVARESINE INNOVATION GOES GREEN – Earlier EU word mark Novares – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Alteration)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Action directed against a decision of the Board of Appeal to remit the case to the Opposition Division – Admissibility  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 71(2))  (see paragraph 20) |

| 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 – Figurative mark NOVARESINE INNOVATION GOES GREEN and word mark Novares  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 30, 31, 42-44, 49-53, 58, 59, 64, 65, 73, 74, 89-95) |

| 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 concerned – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 24) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 33-35, 39, 48, 57) |

| 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 – 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 paragraphs 40, 41) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 76-78) |

| 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 paragraphs 99, 100) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Alters the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 27 October 2023 (Case R 2005/2022-1) such that the appeal filed with EUIPO by Novaresine Srl against the decision of the Opposition Division of 5 September 2022 concerning Opposition No B 3119195 is dismissed; |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Rain Carbon Germany GmbH; |

| 3. | Orders Novaresine Srl to bear its own costs. |

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