Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2008:380
Date: 2008-09-17
Language of the case: German
Court formation: Eighth Chamber
Based on: Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (1957)
Subject matter: Trade marks;Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
Concepts: Word marks applied for
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded
Origin: Germany

Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Eighth Chamber) of 17 September 2008 – FVB v OHIM – FVD (FVB) (Case T-10/07) Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for Community word mark FVB – Earlier national word mark FVD – Relative grounds for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 51-57) Re: ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 6 November 2006 (Case R 1343/2005-4), relating to opposition proceedings between FVD Gesellschaft für Finanzplanung und Vorsorgemanagement Deutschland mbH and FVB Gesellschaft für Finanz- und Versorgungsberatung mbH. Information relating to the case Applicant for the Community trade mark: FVB Gesellschaft für Finanz- und Versorgungsberatung mbH Community trade mark sought: Word mark FVB for services in Classes 35 and 36 – Application No 2126175 Proprietor of the mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings: FVD Gesellschaft für Finanzplanung und Vermögensberatung Deutschland mbH (formerly FVD Gesellschaft für Finanzplanung und Vorsorgemanagement Deutschland mbH) Mark or sign cited in opposition: National word mark FVD for services in Class 36. Decision of the Opposition Division: Opposition upheld; partial rejection of the application for registration Decision of the Board of Appeal: Appeal dismissed Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders FVB Gesellschaft für Finanz- und Versorgungsberatung mbH to pay the costs.