Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 31 January 2024 –  
ECE Group v EUIPO – ECE Piknik Ürünleri Plastik ve Kömür Üretim Ithalat Ihracat (ECE QUALITY OF LIFE)

(Case T‑581/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0581_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark ECE QUALITY OF LIFE – Earlier national figurative mark ECE – Relative grounds for refusal – Article 8(1)(b) and (5) 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 19, 20) |

| 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 goods or services in question – Criteria for assessment – Complementary nature of the goods or services  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 21, 33, 34) |

| 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 – Figurative marks ECE QUALITY OF LIFE and ECE  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 35-37, 43-49) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Extension of protection of the earlier mark with a reputation to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks – Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(5))  (see paragraphs 54-56) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Modification of the terms of the dispute as brought before the Board of Appeal – Not permissible  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188)  (see paragraph 62) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders ECE Group GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0581_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 463, 5.12.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:463:TOC).

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