62019TJ0106_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 29 April 2020 –Abarca v EUIPO — Abanca Corporación Bancaria (ABARCA SEGUROS)
(Case T‑106/19)
(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative mark ABARCA SEGUROS — Earlier EU word mark ABANCA — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision — Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(2) and (3))
(see para. 19)
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 — Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 24, 79, 80)
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 — Degree of attention of the relevant public
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 26)
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 — Figurative mark ABARCA SEGUROS and word mark ABANCA
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 28, 29, 49, 52, 55, 65, 72, 76, 78, 84, 92)
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see paras 31, 32, 37, 45, 47, 51, 70, 71, 77)
6.
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 — Assessment of the distinctive character of an element of which a trade mark is composed
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))
(see para. 36)
7.
EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of legality — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Effect
(see para. 89)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 November 2018 (Case R 1370/2018-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Abanca Corporación Bancaria and Abarca — Companhia de Seguros.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Abarca — Companhia de Seguros SA to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Abanca Corporación Bancaria, SA.