Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 28 March 2017 — Regent University v EUIPO — Regent’s College (REGENT UNIVERSITY)

(Case T‑538/15)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark REGENT UNIVERSITY — Earlier national figurative mark REGENT’S COLLEGE — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) and Article 53(1)(a) 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 20-22, 71) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Surrender, revocation and invalidity—Relative grounds for invalidity—Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services—Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark—Word mark REGENT UNIVERSITY and figurative mark REGENT’S COLLEGE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))  (see paras 24, 25, 70, 72, 73, 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—Similarity of the marks concerned—Criteria for assessment—Composite mark—Determination of dominant component(s)  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 27, 28, 31-34) |

| 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—Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark—Weighing elements of similarity or difference between the signs—Objective marketing considerations to be taken into account  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 29) |

| 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—Elements of a trade mark having a descriptive character  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 35) |

| 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—Visual similarity between a figurative mark and a word mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 52) |

| 7. | EU trade mark—Decisions of the Office—Principle of equal treatment—Principle of sound administration—EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice—Principle of legality  (Council Regulation No 207/2009)  (see para. 66) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 July 2015 (Case R 1859/2014-2) relating to invalidity proceedings between Regent’s College and Regent University.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Regent University to pay the costs. |

[Top](#document1)