Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 23 March 2022 –Vetpharma Animal Health v EUIPO – Deltavit (DELTATIC)
(Case T‑146/21) (1)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark DELTATIC – Earlier EU word mark DELTA – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 18(1), second subparagraph, point (a), and Article 47(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character)
1.      EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 47(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3) and (4))
(see paras 28-30, 34-36, 74)
2.      EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and material scope of Article 18(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 47(2))
(see paras 44-48, 56, 57)
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 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark – Effect
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 86, 87, 111, 116, 118)
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 – Word marks DELTATIC and DELTA
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 103, 108, 110, 117, 120)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Vetpharma Animal Health, SL, to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);
3.
Orders Deltavit to bear its own costs.
1 OJ C 182, 10.5.2021.