Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 6 December 2018 — Deichmann v EUIPO — Vans (Representation of lines on a shoe)

(Case T‑638/16)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative mark representing lines on a shoe — Earlier EU trade mark comprised of two stripes on the side of a shoe — Proof of the existence, validity and scope of the protection of an earlier international trade mark — Rule 19(2)(a)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 (now Article 7(2)(a)(ii) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625) — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of the signs — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Legitimate expectations)

| 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 para. 25) |

| 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 representing lines on a shoe — Position mark consisting in two stripes on the side of a shoe  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 27, 68-69, 72-76) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Signs of which a trade mark may consist — Position mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 4)  (see paras 29-31) |

| 4. | Judicial proceedings — Treatment of cases before the General Court — Protection given to parties against misuse of pleadings and other procedural documents — Scope  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 89)  (see paras 49, 50) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Facts, evidence and observations submitted in support of the opposition — Proof of the existence, validity and scope of the protection of an earlier international trade mark — Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 151(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 19(2)(a)(ii))  (see paras 92-94) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Facts, evidence and observations submitted in support of the opposition — Proof of the existence, validity and scope of the protection of an earlier international trade mark — Publication in the CTM-Online database (now eSearch plus) — Effect  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 151(2) and 152; Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 19(2)(a))  (see paras 95, 96) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Facts, evidence and observations submitted in support of the opposition — Proof of the existence, validity and scope of the protection of an earlier international trade mark — Excerpt from the Office’s CTM-Online database concerning an international registration designating the European Union — Not included  (Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 19(2)(a)(ii))  (see para. 102) |

| 8. | EU law — Principles — Protection of legitimate expectations — Conditions  (see paras 112-113, 120) |

Re

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 July 2016 (Case R 408/2015-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Deichmann and Vans.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Deichmann SE to pay the costs. |

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