Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 28 November 2019 –  
Soundio v EUIPO — Telefónica Germany (Vibble)

(Case T‑665/18)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — International registration designating the European Union — Word mark Vibble — Earlier German word mark vybe — Relative ground for refusal — 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 17, 18, 61) |

| 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 paras 19, 24) |

| 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 — Word marks Vibble and Vybe  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 26, 62-67) |

| 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 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 27) |

| 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 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 34, 43, 50, 54) |

| 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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Assessment only on the basis of the dominant element of a complex mark — Conditions  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 36) |

| 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 — Objective marketing considerations to be taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 44) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 4 September 2018 (Case R 721/2018-5), relating to opposition proceedings between E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH and Soundio.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Soundio A/S to pay the costs. |

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