Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 20 November 2018 –  
Asahi Intecc v EUIPO — Celesio (Celeson)

(Case T‑36/18)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — International registration designating the European Union — Word mark Celeson — Earlier international word mark CELESIO — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | Judicial proceedings — Time-limit for instituting proceedings — Claim barred by lapse of time — Unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure — Meaning — Limits  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 45, second para.)  (see paras 21-23) |

| 2. | Judicial proceedings — Time-limit for instituting proceedings — Claim barred by lapse of time — Unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure — Meaning — Postal delay — Not included  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 45, second para.)  (see para. 27) |

| 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 — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 35, 36, 98, 99) |

| 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 between the goods or services in question — Criteria for assessment  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 39, 40) |

| 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  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 68, 69, 100) |

| 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 — Word marks Celeson and CELESIO  (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 79, 86-89, 104-108) |

| 7. | 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 No 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 102, 103) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 20 November 2017 (Case R 1004/2017-4), relating to opposition proceedings between Celesio and Asahi Intecc.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd to bear the costs. |

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