Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 24 January 2024 –  
U.I. Lapp v EUIPO – Labkable Asia (labkable Solutions for cables)

(Case T‑636/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0636_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark labkable Solutions for cables – Earlier EU figurative marks LAPP KABEL STUTTGART and LAPP KABEL and earlier word mark LAPP – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – 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 22-24, 92) |

| 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 paragraphs 25, 32) |

| 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 – 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 39, 40, 49, 50, 53, 86) |

| 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 labkable Solutions for cables – Figurative marks LAPP KABEL STUTTGART and LAPP KABEL and word mark LAPP  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 72, 81, 91, 101-108) |

| 5. | 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(3))  (see paragraph 112) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 22 July 2022 (Case R 1894/2021-2); |

| 2. | Upholds the opposition brought against registration of the EU figurative mark LABKABLE SOLUTIONS FOR CABLES submitted on 3 January 2020; |

| 3. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by U.I. Lapp GmbH; |

| 4. | Orders Labkable Asia Ltd to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0636_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 451, 28.11.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:451:TOC).

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