Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 12 May 2016 —
Red Lemon v EUIPO — Lidl Stiftung (ABTRONIC)

(Case T‑643/14)

EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for the EU word mark ABTRONIC — Earlier EU word mark TRONIC — Relative ground for refusal — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Minimal inherent distinctiveness of the earlier mark — Likelihood of confusion

1.                     EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Account taken by the General Court of matters of law and fact not previously raised before the departments of EUIPO — Not included (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(2)) (see para. 15)

2.                     EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 23, 24, 50, 51, 63)

3.                     EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 para. 29)

4.                     EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 — Word marks ABTRONIC and TRONIC (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 49, 62-65)

5.                     EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice — Principle of legality (see paras 66, 67)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 15 March 2014 (Case R 1899/2013-1), relating to opposition proceedings between Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG and Red Lemon Inc.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Red Lemon Inc. to pay the costs.