Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 1 September 2021 –  
FF IP v EUIPO – Seven (the DoubleF)

(Case T‑23/20)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark the DoubleF – Earlier EU word mark THE DOUBLE – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Relevant public – Similarity of the goods – Similarity of the signs – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Alteration of a decision of the Office – Assessment in the light of the powers conferred on the Board of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 66(1) and 71(1))  (see paras 24, 25) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 36, 37, 45, 116) |

| 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. 39) |

| 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 – Figurative mark the DoubleF  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 46-49, 60-62, 74, 96, 103, 114, 129) |

| 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 between the goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 56, 57) |

| 6. | 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 78, 79, 85, 106) |

| 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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 87) |

| 8. | 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 – Consideration of marketing circumstances – Precluded  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 102) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 31 October 2019 (Case R 2588/2018-1), relating to opposition proceedings between Seven and FF IP.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Dismisses Seven SpA’s application for refusal of registration of the European Union figurative mark the DoubleF for goods in Class 18 and services in Class 35; |

| 3. | Orders FF IP Srl to pay the costs. |

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