Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 5 October 2017 – Versace 19.69 Abbigliamento Sportivo v EUIPO – Gianni Versace (VERSACE 19.69 ABBIGLIAMENTO SPORTIVO)

(Case T-336/16)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative trade mark VERSACE 19.69 ABBIGLIAMENTO SPORTIVO — Earlier EU word mark VERSACE — Genuine use of the earlier mark — Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of signs — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark–Observations of third parties and opposition–Examination of the opposition–Proof of use of the earlier mark–Partial use–Effect–Concept of (part of the goods or services) covered by the registration  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2))  (see paras 46-48) |

| 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–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 64, 65) |

| 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–Figurative mark VERSACE 19.69 ABBIGLIAMENTO SPORTIVO and word mark VERSACE  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 72-74, 77-79, 91, 94) |

| 4. | EU trade mark–Appeals procedure–Action before the EU judicature–Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision–Limits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see paras 84-86) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 89, 90) |

| 6. | Judicial proceedings–Application initiating proceedings–Formal requirements–Identification of the subject-matter of the dispute–Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))  (see para 97) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 April 2016 (Case R 1005/2015-1) relating to opposition proceedings between Gianni Versace and Versace 19.69 Abbigliamento Sportivo.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 6 April 2016 (Case R 1005/2015-1) in so far as the Board of Appeal held that there had been genuine use of the earlier EU mark VERSACE for textile goods (not included in other classes) other than ‘household linen’ in class 24; |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |

| 3. | Orders Versace 19.69 Abbigliamento Sportivo Srl to bear its own costs and to pay one half of the costs incurred by EUIPO; |

| 4. | Orders EUIPO EUIPO to bear one half of its own costs; |

| 5. | Orders Gianni Versace SpA to bear its own costs. |

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