62020TJ0266_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 9 June 2021 –Global Chartered Controller Institute v EUIPO – CFA Institute (CCA CHARTERED CONTROLLER ANALYST CERTIFICATE)
(Case T‑266/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU figurative mark CCA CHARTERED CONTROLLER ANALYST CERTIFICATE – Earlier EU word mark CFA and earlier EU figurative mark CFA CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Relevant public – Level of attention)
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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 26, 27)
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 paras 31, 33, 34)
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 – Assessment of the likelihood of confusion – Attention level of the public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 32, 35, 38-40, 42, 45-48)
4.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))
(see paras 54, 56)
5.
Judicial proceedings – Costs – Recoverable costs
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 190(2))
(see para. 61)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 25 February 2020 (Case R 235/2019-5), relating to opposition proceedings between CFA Institute and Global Chartered Controller Institute.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 25 February 2020 (Case R 235/2019-5);
2.
Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Global Chartered Controller Institute SL, with the exception of the costs incurred by the latter before the Board of Appeal, which are reserved;
3.
Orders CFA Institute to bear its own costs.