Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 6 October 2011 – Honda Motor v OHIM – Blok (BLAST)

(Case T-425/09)

Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the Community word mark BLAST – Earlier Community and Benelux word marks BLAST – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 – Weak distinctive character of the earlier marks

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 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 24, 31-32)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 16 July 2009 (Case R 1097/2008-1), relating to opposition proceedings between Mr Hendrik Blok and Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Honda Motor Co. Ltd to pay the costs.