Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 28 April 2021 –  
Linde Material Handling v EUIPO – Verti Aseguradora (VertiLight)

(Case T‑644/19)

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark VertiLight – Earlier national word mark VERTI – Relative ground for refusal – No damage to reputation – No link between the marks at issue – Article 8(5) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Review of the legal classification given to the facts of the dispute  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see paras 17, 19, 45) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or the EU – Future, non-hypothetical risk of unfair advantage or damage – Cumulative conditions  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 23-25) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Link between the marks – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 26, 36, 37, 85, 95, 96, 102) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Detriment to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark – Relevant public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 46, 48, 49) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Aim  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (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 enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Conditions – Reputation of the mark in the Member State or the EU – Definition – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 56-59) |

| 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 enjoying a reputation – Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services – Word marks VertiLight and VERTI  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5))  (see paras 94, 97-101, 103) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 July 2019 (Case R 1849/2018-5), relating to opposition proceedings between Verti Aseguradora, Compañía de seguros y reaseguros, and Linde Material Handling.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 5 July 2019 (Case R 1849/2018-5); |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Linde Material Handling GmbH; |

| 3. | Orders Verti Aseguradora, Compañía de seguros y reaseguros, SA, to bear its own costs. |

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