Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 7 February 2024 –  
J&B v EUIPO – Ergün (J&B BRO)

(Case T‑318/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0318_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark J&B BRO – Earlier EU figurative marks 4BRO – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Similarity of the signs – 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 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 14, 15) |

| 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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of a trade mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 18, 19, 22, 24) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 47, 48) |

| 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Coexistence of earlier marks – Recognition of an EU trade mark as having a certain degree of distinctiveness  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 51) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraphs 53, 54) |

| 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 – Figurative mark J&B BRO and figurative marks 4BRO  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 62, 64, 65) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders J&B Ltd and the European Union Intellectual Property Office each to bear their own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0318_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 261, 24.7.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:261:TOC).

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