Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 6 November 2024 –  
House of Prince v EUIPO – Biały (AROMA KING)

(Case T‑118/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0118_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark AROMA KING – Earlier national word mark KING’S – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier mark – No independent distinctive role)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see paragraph 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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment – Distinctiveness or reputation of the earlier mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 23, 73, 77, 78, 86, 87, 93) |

| 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 29, 30, 34-36, 45) |

| 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 AROMA KING and word mark KING’S  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 42, 57, 61, 66, 81, 90, 92, 94) |

| 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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Distinctive and descriptive nature of an element common to the two marks – Relevance  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 48, 49) |

| 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 – Similarity between the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark – Element common to two marks having an independent distinctive role in the earlier mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 97, 99, 102, 104, 106) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)  (see paragraph 119) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders House of Prince A/S to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0118_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 134, 17.4.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:134:TOC).

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