Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 19 September 2019 –  
WhiteWave Services v EUIPO — Fernandes (VeGa one)

(Case T‑176/17)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative mark VeGa one — International registration designating the European Union in respect of the earlier word mark Vegas — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 24, 88, 89) |

| 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 — Figurative mark VeGa one and word mark VEGAS  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 27, 38, 42, 47, 59, 94, 97) |

| 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 — Assessment of the likelihood of confusion — Determination of the relevant public — Attention level of the public — Pharmaceutical products and products other than pharmaceutical products  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 31, 33, 34) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 40, 41) |

| 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 44, 45, 51) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 January 2017 (Case R 2466/2015-1), relating to opposition proceedings between Mr Carlos Fernandes and Sequel Naturals.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Grants WhiteWave Services, Inc. leave to replace Sequel Naturals ULC as applicant; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action; |

| 3. | Orders WhiteWave Services to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO); |

| 4. | Orders Mr Carlos Fernandes to bear his own costs. |

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