62020TJ0025_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 November 2020 –Deutsche Post v EUIPO – Pošta Slovenije (Representation of a stylised horn)
(Case T‑25/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for registration of an EU figurative mark representing a stylised horn – Earlier EU figurative mark representing a post horn on a yellow background – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Similarity of the signs – Lack of distinctive character of the earlier mark – 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 17, 18, 48-50)
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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Degree of distinctiveness of the earlier trade mark
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 25, 26, 38)
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 representing a stylised horn – Figurative mark representing a postal horn on a yellow background
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 37, 47, 57)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 November 2019 (Case R 994/2019-1) relating to opposition proceedings between Deutsche Post and Pošta Slovenije.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Deutsche Post AG to pay the costs.