Judgment of the General Court of 28 February 2024 – Sumol + Compal Marcas v EUIPO – Kåska (smål)

(Case T-279/23) ¹

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark smål – Earlier EU figurative mark and earlier national word mark SUMOL – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Identity of the goods – Enhanced distinctiveness of the earlier marks through use – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Sumol + Compal Marcas SA (Carnaxide, Portugal) (represented by: R. Milhões, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: M. Eberl, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO: Kåska Oy (Helsinki, Finland)

Re:

By its action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks the annulment and the alteration of the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 1 March 2023 (Case R 2295/2022-5).

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.    Dismisses the action;

2.    Orders Sumol + Compal Marcas SA and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) each to bear their own costs.

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¹     OJ C 235, 3.7.2023.