Judgment of the General Court of 25 March 2015 — Apple and Pear Australia and Star Fruits Diffusion v OHIM — Carolus C. (English pink)

(Case T-378/13) ¹

(Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for Community word mark English pink — Earlier Community word mark PINK LADY and earlier Community figurative mark Pink Lady — Obligation to state reasons — Duty of diligence — Decisions by a Community trade mark court — No res judicata)

Language of the case: French

Parties

Applicants: Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (Victoria, Australia)) and Star Fruits Diffusion (Caderousse, France)) (represented by: T. de Haan and P. Péters, lawyers)

Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) (represented by: J. Crespo Carrillo, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of OHIM: Carolus C. BVBA (Nieuwerkerken, Belgium))

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 29 May 2013 (Case R 1215/2011-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Apple and Pear Australia Ltd and Star Fruits Diffusion, on the one hand, and Carolus C. BVBA, on the other.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Annuls the decision of the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 29 May 2013 (Case R 1215/2011-4);

Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

Orders OHIM to bear its own costs and to pay half of those incurred by Apple and Pear Australia Ltd and by Star Fruits Diffusion;

Orders Apple and Pear Australia and Star Fruits Diffusion to bear half of their costs.

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¹ OJ C 260, 7.9.2013.