62019TJ0829_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 20 January 2021 – Palírna U Zeleného stromu v EUIPO – Bacardi (BLEND 42 VODKA)
(Case T‑829/19)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark BLEND 42 VODKA – Earlier EU word mark and international figurative mark 42 BELOW – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Relevant public – Similarity of the goods and services – Similarity of the signs – Global assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 29, 30, 57-60, 65, 66, 68)
2.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 – Determination of the relevant public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 33)
3.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 BLEND 42 VODKA and word and figurative marks 42 BELOW
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 35, 38, 64, 92, 103)
4.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 36)
5.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 40, 43-45, 86)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 September 2019 (Case R 2531/2018-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Bacardi & Co. and Palírna U Zeléného stromu.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Palírna U Zeleného stromu a.s. to pay the costs.