Judgment of the General Court of 24 January 2024 – Tiendanimal v EUIPO – Salvana Tiernahrung (SALVAJE)
(Case T-55/23) 1
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark SALVAJE – Earlier national word mark SALVANA – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001)
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Tiendanimal Comercio Electronico de Articulos para Mascotas, S.L, (Malaga, Spain) (represented by: S. Correa Rodríguez, lawyer)
Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: P. Villani and V. Ruzek, acting as Agents)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Salvana Tiernahrung GmbH, (Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany) (represented by K. Wagner and M. Kefferpütz, lawyers)
Re:
By its action based on Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks annulment of the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 7 November 2022 (Case R 2192/2021-5).
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
1. Dismisses the action;
2. Orders Tiendanimal Comercio Electronico de Articulos para Mascotas, S.L, in addition to bearing its own costs, to pay those incurred by Salvana Tiernahrung GmbH;
3. Declares that the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shall bear its own costs.
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1 OJ C 112, 27.3.2023.