Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 7 June 2023 –  
Cassa Centrale v EUIPO – Bankia (BANQUÌ)

(Case T‑368/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0368_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark BANQUÌ – Earlier EU figurative mark Bankia – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Distinctive character of the earlier mark)

| 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 13, 14) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(2))  (see paragraphs 17-19) |

| 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 22, 45, 62) |

| 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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Determination of the relevant public – Attention level of the public  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 25, 26, 32) |

| 5. | 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 – Word mark BANQUÌ and figurative mark Bankia  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 33, 44, 61, 72) |

| 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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 34-36, 50, 69, 70) |

| 7. | 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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Consideration of marketing circumstances – Not included  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraph 48) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 11 April 2022 (Case R 1318/2021‑1) in so far as it rejected the appeal brought by Cassa Centrale Banca – Credito Cooperativo Italiano SpA in that the application for registration of the word mark BANQUÌ as an EU mark designated goods in Class 9 within the meaning of the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |

| 3. | Orders Cassa Centrale Banca – Credito Cooperativo Italiano and EUIPO each to bear their own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0368_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 303, 8.8.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:303:TOC).

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