Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 28 March 2019 –  
dm-drogerie markt v EUIPO — Albea Services (ALBÉA)

(Case T‑562/17)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — International registration designating the European Union — Figurative mark ALBÉA — Earlier international registration designating the European Union — Word mark Balea — 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))

| 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 16, 17, 42) |

| 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 — Assessment of the likelihood of confusion — Determination of the relevant public — Attention level of the public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 19) |

| 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 ALBÉA and word mark Balea  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 26, 41, 46, 50-52) |

| 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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment — Composite mark  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 27, 29, 36) |

| 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 — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Criteria for assessment — Distinctiveness or reputation of the earlier mark — Effect  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 49) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to vary the contested decision — Limits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(3))  (see para. 53) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Actions before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Power to issue directions — None  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(6))  (see para. 55) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 25 May 2017 (Case R 1870/2016-1), relating to opposition proceedings between dm-drogerie markt and Albea Services.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 25 May 2017 (Case R 1870/2016-1); |

| 2. | Declares that the parties are to bear their own costs. |

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