62020TJ0196_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 16 June 2021 –Chanel v EUIPO – Innovative Cosmetic Concepts (INCOCO)
(Case T‑196/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark INCOCO – Earlier national word marks COCO – Relative ground for refusal – 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 23, 24)
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 – Attention level of the public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 25, 52, 73, 74)
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 – 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 para. 29)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Distinctiveness or reputation of the earlier mark – Effect
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 38-43, 78-81, 93)
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 – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Word marks INCOCO and COCO
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 44, 45, 60, 67, 77, 94)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 January 2020 (Case R 194/2019-1), relating to opposition proceedings between Chanel and Innovative Cosmetic Concepts.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 16 January 2020 (Case R 194/2019-1);
2.
Orders EUIPO and Innovative Cosmetic Concepts LLC to pay the costs.