Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 27 February 2015 —
Spa Monopole v OHIM — Olivar Del Desierto (OLEOSPA)

(Case T‑377/12)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for Community figurative mark OLEOSPA — Earlier Benelux word marks SPA — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 — Earlier mark holding an independent distinctive position in the market applied for (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 19-23, 36, 37)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 OLEOSPA and word marks SPA (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 25, 26, 44-46)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 — Determination of dominant component(s) (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see para. 27)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 22 June 2012 (Case R 135/2011-4) concerning opposition proceedings between Spa Monopole, compagnie fermière de Spa SA/NV and Olivar Del Desierto, SL.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 22 June 2012 (Case R 135/2011-4), in so far as it dismisses the opposition in respect of cosmetic products, falling within Class 3 of the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended;

2. Orders OHIM to pay the costs.