Judgment of the General Court of 20 January 2021 – Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi v EUIPO – M. J. Dairies (BBQLOUMI)

(Case T-328/17 RENV) ¹

(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU figurative mark BBQLOUMI – Earlier EU collective word mark HALLOUMI – Relative ground for refusal – No likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi (Nicosia, Cyprus) (represented by: S. Malynicz QC, V. Marsland, Solicitor, and S. Barran, Barrister)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: D. Gája and V. Ruzek, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: M.J. Dairies EOOD (Sofia, Bulgaria) (represented by: D. Dimitrova, avocate)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 March 2017 (Case R 497/2016-4), relating to opposition proceedings between the Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi and M. J. Dairies.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders Foundation for the Protection of the Traditional Cheese of Cyprus named Halloumi to pay the costs relating to the proceedings instituted before the General Court and to the proceedings on the appeal before the Court of Justice.

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¹ OJ C 239, 24.7.2017.