Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 September 2011 – K‑Mail Order v OHIM – IVKO (MEN’Z)

(Case T-279/10)

Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for Community figurative mark MEN’Z – Prior trade name WENZ – Relative ground for refusal – Local range of the earlier sign – Article 8(4) and Article 41(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade – Local range of the sign (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4)) (see paras 23, 29-30)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 30 March 2010 (Case R 746/2009‑1) concerning opposition proceedings between Wenz GmbH and IVKO Industrieprodukt-Vertriebskontakt GmbH.

Operative part

The Court:

1.Dismisses the action;

2.Orders K-Mail Order GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.