Source: http://rychlicki.net/en/issue/trademark-law/similarity-of-goods/page/3/
Timestamp: 2019-08-26 01:50:41
Document Index: 342519691

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 132', 'Art. 246', 'Art. 132', 'Art. 151', 'Art. 132', 'Art. 9']

Polish IP & IT law – copyright trademark computer internet telecomm » similarity of goods
Archive for: similarity of goods
Trade mark law, case VI SA/Wa 1601/08
January 28th, 2009, Tomasz Rychlicki
On July 4, 2002 Polish company Aldo sp. z o.o. applied for the right of protection for word-figurative mark ALDO S Z-252456 in classes 6, 19, 35, 37. The services indicated to operating a store and wholesalers with building materials. In 2005, The Polish Patent Office has issued a favourable decision and registered the submitted mark R-169096.
German company Aldi Einkauf GmbH has opposed the registration. The opponent based its claims on two registrations. However, only the second of the presented trade marks ALDI R-173352 covered the contested class. This sign was also registered later in 2006 (the trade mark application was filled on June 11, 2002). After finding the opposition justified the The Adjudicative Board of the Polish Patent Office transformed it into the motion to cancel trade mark rights.
However, after parties submitted additional observations and after hearing oral arguments, The Board found that Aldi just started its business on the Polish market and does not offer or sell building materials so far. Aldo’s representative argued that the contested sign differs because of its figurative elements and due to small amount of letters and its ending there is no verbal similarity. Another argument presented that Aldo was using its sign since 1995 and there was no Aldi’s presence on the Polish market at this time. It was also noted that goods and services are aimed at the careful consumer so there is no risk in the association of the origin of such goods. Therefore, the PPO rejected the ALDI’s request in its decision of 26 February 2008 case act signature Sp.148/07. The PPO noted that contested wholesales services are alike but goods sold by Aldo are being offered in special shops where Aldi’s products are available in hipermarkets. The Board also held that both marks are not similar because they differ visually and they sound differently.
The German company filed a complain before the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw. In its complaint Aldi Einkauf still claimed that the disputed trade mark may lead to association with its brand. The German company alleged that the PPO wrongly assessed similarities. Aldi’s representative argued that the verbal aspect has greater importance in word-figurative trade marks. The letter “S” is separated from the word Aldo. Therefore, this expression will be perceived by the public as a dominant. However, the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw in its judgment of 11 December 2008 case file VI SA/Wa 1601/08 dismissed Aldi’s complaint. The VAC held that PPO provided a proper and complete assessment of the disputed signs. The Adjudicative Board compared them globally, and also referred to the verbal elements. The difference of even a single letter is a sufficient factor to distinguish these signs, in visual, phonetic and aural perspective — said judge Ewa Marcinkowska, (the rapporteur). The judgment is not final yet. The cassation complaint may be filed before the Supreme Administrative Court.
Categories: Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | Art. 246 IPL | Polish Act on Industrial Property Law | similarity of goods | similarity of signs | trade mark opposition | trademark law | Voivodeship Administrative Court.
Trade mark law, case VI SA/Wa 2113/08
December 23rd, 2008, Tomasz Rychlicki
Skandinaviska Farginstitutet AB the owner of NCS Natural Color System R-129085 trade mark filed opposition against the decision of the Polish Patent Office on the grant of the right of protection for COLOR SYSTEM R-171995 trade mark for AGENCJA PROMOCYJNA “COLOR SYSTEM” Iwona Emilia Hachlica. The PPO dismissed the opposition.
The Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw in its judgment of 12 December 2008 case file VI SA/Wa 2113/08 affirmed this decision. The VAc held that the overall assessment of the likelihood of confusion, in relation to the visual, aural or conceptual similarity of the trade marks at issue must be based on the overall impression, taking account in particular, their distinctive and dominant components/elements. The Court ruled also that the registration of the trade mark in a given form does not afford the exclusivity in relation to particular elements of this trade mar, apart from situations where a part of the sign is a reputed/renown trade mark.
Categories: Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | Art. 151 PBAC | company name or firm | likelihood of confusion | similarity of goods | similarity of signs | trade mark infringement | Voivodeship Administrative Court.
Trade mark law, case Sp. 538/07
December 20th, 2008, Tomasz Rychlicki
On 3 March 2005, the Polish company “KILARGO” Spólka z o.o. from Chechlo I applied for the word-figurative trade mark Sweetlips for goods in class 30 such as ice creams. The Polish Patent Office has granted the right for protection on 18 September 2006. The registration was opposed by Lidl Stiftung & Co.KG. The company claimed that Kilargo’s registration was granted in violation of article 132(2)(ii) of the Polish Act of 30 June 2000 on Industrial Property Law – IPL – (in Polish: ustawa Prawo własności przemysłowej) of 30 June 2000, published in Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw) of 2001 No 49, item 508, consolidated text of 13 June 2003, Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw) No 119, item 1117, with later amendments.
A right of protection for a trademark shall not be granted, if the trademark:
… is identical or similar to a trademark for which a right of protection was granted or which has been applied for protection with an earlier priority date (provided that the latter is subsequently granted a right of protection) on behalf of another party for identical or similar goods, if a risk of misleading the public exists, in particular by evoking associations with the earlier mark
Lidl Stiftung has provided evidences of an earlier trade mark – SWEETKIDS – which was applied for on 7 May 2004, in class 30 for goods such as chocolate and confectionery products, in particular chocolate bars, chocolate candies, candies. On 22 December 2006, the PPO has issued a decision on granting the right or protection to SWEETKIDS R-185112 trade mark.
The Polish Patent Office in its decision of 22 October 2008 case Sp. 538/07 did not find similarities between disputed trademarks, or goods they are intended to mark, since ice creams are specific products to sweets. In PPO’s view the “sweet” part is to be found in many trade marks that have been already registered and therefore it has hardly distinctive capabilities. The decision is final.
Categories: Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | Polish Act on Industrial Property Law | Polish institutions | Polish Patent Office | similarity of goods | similarity of signs | trade mark opposition | trademark law.
Trade mark law, case II SA 2778/01
February 28th, 2005, Tomasz Rychlicki
The Supreme Administrative Court in its judgement of 28 March 2002 case file II SA 2778/01 held that according to the established and settled case-law, all the issues with regard to the similarity of trade marks are resolved on the basis of the risk of confusion as to the origin of goods. And the risk of confusion as to the origin of goods consists of similarity of goods and similarity of signs. The Court ruled that the trade marks are compared and examined globally, with particular emphasis on its dominant and distinctive elements. This case concerned the trade mark “Królewska Para” R-115243.
Categories: Art. 9(1)(i) TMA | distinctive character | likelihood of confusion | Polish Supreme Administrative Court | similarity of goods | similarity of signs | trade mark examination.