Judgment of the General Court of 16 March 2022 – Nowhere v EUIPO – Ye (APE TEES)

(Case T-281/21) ¹

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark APE TEES – Earlier national non-registered figurative trade marks representing an ape – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Rules governing common-law actions for passing-off – Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and Euratom)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Nowhere Co. Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) (represented by: R. Kunze, lawyer)

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

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO: Junguo Ye (Elche, Spain)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 10 February 2021 (Case R 2474/2017-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Nowhere Co. and Mr Ye.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 10 February 2021 (Case R 2474/2017-2);

Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.

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¹     OJ C 289, 19.7.2021.