Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 30 September 2015 —
Sequoia Capital Operations v OHIM — Sequoia Capital (SEQUOIA CAPITAL)
(Case T‑369/14)
Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Community word mark SEQUOIA CAPITAL — Earlier Community word mark SEQUOIA — Relative ground for refusal — Article 8(1)(b) and Article 53(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Likelihood of confusion
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 — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 16-19, 42)
2.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Relative grounds for invalidity — Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Word marks SEQUOIA CAPITAL and SEQUOIA (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a)) (see paras 22, 23, 34, 43)
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 — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see para. 24)
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 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 36, 37)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 18 March 2014 (Case R 1457/2013-4), concerning invalidity proceedings between Sequoia Capital LLP and Sequoia Capital Operations LLC.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Sequoia Capital Operations LLC to pay the costs.