62019TJ0343_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 26 March 2020 –Conlance v EUIPO — LG Electronics (SONANCE)
(Case T‑343/19)
(
EU trade mark
—
Opposition proceedings
—
Application for EU word mark SONANCE
—
Earlier national word mark conlance
—
Relative ground for refusal
—
No likelihood of confusion
—
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 16, 17, 57)
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8,(1)(b))
(see para. 19)
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 — Criteria for assessment — Complementary nature of the goods or services
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 21, 22)
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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 33)
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 SONANCE and conlance
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 42, 50, 54-56, 64)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 April 2019 (Case R 1085/2018-1) relating to opposition proceedings between Conlance and LG Electronics.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Conlance GmbH to pay the costs.