62019TJ0874_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 25 November 2020 –Impera v EUIPO – Euro Games Technology (Flaming Forties)
(Case T‑874/19)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the EU word mark Flaming Forties – Earlier national figurative mark 40 FLAMING FRUITS – 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 21, 76)
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 para. 23)
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. 32)
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 mark Flaming Forties and figurative mark 40 FLAMING FRUITS
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 40, 44, 55, 57-59, 65, 71, 75, 81, 82)
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 – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 45, 46)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 October 2019 (Case R 2304/2018-5), relating to opposition proceedings between Euro Games Technology and Impera.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Impera GmbH to pay the costs.