Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Eighth Chamber) of 1 July 2009 – Perfetti Van Melle v OHIM – Cloetta Fazer (CENTER SHOCK)

(Case T-16/08)

Community trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Community word mark CENTER SHOCK – Earlier national word marks CENTER – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 8(1)(b) and Article 53(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

Community trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds of invalidity (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(1)(b) and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 41-44, 49-50)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 7 November 2007 (Case R 149/2006-4) relating to invalidity proceedings between Cloetta Fazer AB and Perfetti Van Melle SpA.

Information relating to the case

Registered Community trade mark subject of the application for a declaration of invalidity:	The word mark ‘CENTER SHOCK’ for goods in Class 30 – Community trade mark No 973065
Proprietor of the Community trade mark:	Perfetti Van Melle SpA
Party requesting the declaration of invalidity of the Community trade mark:	Cloetta Fazer AB
Trade mark right of the party requesting the declaration of invalidity:	The national word marks ‘CENTER’ and ‘CLOETTA CENTER’ for goods in, inter alia, Class 30
Decision of the Cancellation Division:	Declaration of invalidity of the Community trade mark
Decision of the Board of Appeal:	Appeal dismissed

Operative part

The Court:

1.      Dismisses the action;

2.      Orders Perfetti Van Melle SpA to pay the costs.