Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 30 March 2022 –  
L’Oréal v EUIPO – Debonair Trading Internacional (SO COUTURE)

(Case T‑30/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0030_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark SO COUTURE – EU word mark SO …? – Relative grounds 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))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for 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 paras 24, 25, 66, 74) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 26) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 28) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks SO COUTURE and SO …?  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 29, 30, 41, 46, 47, 50, 59, 62, 64, 70, 75, 76, 77) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed – Effect  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 31-35, 67, 68, 72) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 43) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Weighing elements of similarity or difference between the signs – Taking into account of the intrinsic characteristics of the signs or the conditions in which the goods or services are marketed  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 74) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders L’Oréal to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0030_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 128, 12.4.2021.](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:128:TOC)

[Top](#document1)