Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 21 February 2024 –  
Hoffmann v EUIPO – Moldex/Metric (Holex)

(Case T‑767/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0767_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark Holex – Earlier EU figurative mark MOLDEX – Relative ground for refusal – Proof of genuine use – No likelihood of confusion – Similarity of the goods – Similarity of the signs – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Limitation of the list of products and services after the decision of the Board of Appeal – Consequences  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 49(1))  (see paragraphs 21, 22) |

| 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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Level of attention of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 27) |

| 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 – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 34, 42) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 46, 53, 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 – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 73, 74) |

| 6. | 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(2) and (3))  (see paragraphs 82, 84) |

| 7. | 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 mark Holex and figurative mark MOLDEX  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 44, 59, 68, 75-79) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls points 1 and 2 of the operative part of the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 30 September 2022 (Case R 1248/2022-2); |

| 2. | Dismisses the appeal brought by Moldex/Metric AG & Co. KG before the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO in so far as it concerns the goods referred to in point 1 of the operative part of the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 30 September 2022 (Case R 1248/2022-2); |

| 3. | Orders EUIPO to pay, in addition to its own costs, those incurred by Hoffmann GmbH Qualitätswerkzeuge; |

| 4. | Orders Moldex/Metric to pay its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0767_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 35, 30.1.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:035:TOC).

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