Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 September 2017 — Aldi Einkauf v EUIPO — Weetabix (Alpenschmaus)

(Case T‑103/16)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative mark Alpenschmaus — Earlier EU word mark ALPEN — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 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 22, 84, 85) |

| 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  (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 — Earlier trade mark constituted by an EU trade mark — Refusal to register on a ground relating to refusal even limited to part of the Union  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 27) |

| 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 Alpenschmaus and word mark ALPEN  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 28, 37, 89, 90) |

| 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 45-48) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Legality — Examination by the EU judicature — Criteria  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 50) |

| 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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Assessment of the distinctiveness of an element composing a trade mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 57) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 January 2016 (Case R 2725/2014-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Weetabix and Aldi Einkauf.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co. OHG to pay the costs relating to the present proceedings. |

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