Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 20 June 2017 — Industrie Aeronautiche Reggiane v EUIPO — Audi (NSU)

(Case T‑541/15)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark NSU — Prior national word mark NSU — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Genuine use of the earlier mark — Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3))  (see paras 25, 27, 28) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Interpretation taking account of the rationale of Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, tenth recital and Art. 42(2) and (3); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3))  (see para. 26) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Determination of a minimal quantitative use threshold — Precluded  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3))  (see para. 45) |

| 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 — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 54) |

| 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 between the goods or services in question — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 55) |

| 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 between the goods or services in question — Complementary nature of the goods or services  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 56) |

| 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 — Word marks NSU  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 71, 73) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 July 2015 (Case R 2132/2014-2) concerning opposition proceedings between Audi and Industrie Aeronautiche Reggiane.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Industrie Aeronautiche Reggiane to pay the costs. |

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