Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 25 October 2023 –  
Contorno Textil v EUIPO – Harmont & Blaine (GILBERT TECKEL)

(Case T‑773/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0773_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for an EU figurative mark, representing a dachshund in profile, GILBERT TECKEL – Earlier EU figurative mark representing a dachshund in profile – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Equal treatment – Legal certainty)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Alteration of a decision of EUIPO – Assessment in the light of the powers conferred on the Board of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see paragraphs 15, 16) |

| 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 – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 22, 23, 73) |

| 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 marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 26, 27, 38, 41, 56, 57) |

| 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 – Figurative mark, representing a dachshund in profile, GILBERT TECKEL, and figurative mark representing a dachshund in profile  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 34, 35, 38, 39, 58, 59, 71, 79) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Article 94(1), first sentence, of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 47, 50, 51) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 83) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 84-86) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Contorno Textil, SL to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Harmont & Blaine SpA; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0773_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 45, 6.2.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:045:TOC).

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