Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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. |

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