Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 December 2014 —
Sherwin-Williams Sweden v OHIM — Akzo Nobel Coatings International (ARTI)

(Case T‑12/13)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for Community trade mark ARTI — Earlier Benelux word mark ARTITUDE and international registration of the earlier Benelux trade mark ARTITUDE — Refusal to register — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of the signs — Identical or highly similar goods — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Legality of the decision of a Board of Appeal adjudicating in opposition proceedings — Challenge by raising new matters of law — Conditions under which permissible (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76(1)) (see paras 30-34)

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 — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 46, 47, 82)

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 — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Figurative mark ARTI and word mark ARTITUDE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 54, 55, 81, 83, 84)

4.                     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 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 56, 57, 69)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 18 October 2012 (Case R 2085/2011‑1), concerning opposition proceedings between Akzo Nobel Coatings International B V and Sherwin-Williams Sweden Group AB.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB to bear the costs.