Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 9 April 2014 — EI du Pont de Nemours v OHIM — Zueco Ruiz (ZYTeL)
(Case T‑288/12)
Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for the figurative mark ZYTeL — Earlier Community word mark and well-known mark within the meaning of Article 6bis of the Paris Convention ZYTEL — Relative grounds for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Detriment to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark — Article 8(5) of Regulation No 207/2009
1.                     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 — Assessment of the likelihood of confusion — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b), and (2)(c)) (see paras 18-20)
2.                     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 — Figurative mark ZYTeL — Word mark ZYTEL and mark ZYTEL (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 23, 26, 44, 47, 49)
3.                     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 — Similarity between the goods or services in question — Complementary nature of the goods or services (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 31, 38, 45)
4.                     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 enjoying a reputation — Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services — Conditions — Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5)) (see paras 57, 58)
5.                     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 enjoying a reputation — Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services — Proof to be adduced by proprietor — Future, non-hypothetical risk of unfair advantage or damage (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5)) (see para. 59)
6.                     Acts of the institutions — Statement of reasons — Obligation — Scope (Art. 296 TFEU) (see para. 66)
7.                     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 enjoying a reputation — Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services — Conditions — Link between the marks — Criteria for assessment — Account taken of the nature of the goods or services in question (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5)) (see para. 70)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 29 March 2012 (Case R 464/2011-2) relating to opposition proceedings between EI du Pont de Nemours and Company and Mr Enrique Zueco Ruiz.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders EI du Pont de Nemours and Company to pay the costs.