Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 28 February 2014 —
Genebre v OHIM — General Electric (GE)

(Case T‑520/11)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for the Community figurative mark GE — Earlier national word mark GE — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Direction issued to the Office — Exclusion (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(6)) (see para. 14)

2.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it — Exclusion (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65) (see para. 18)

3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Signs capable of constituting a mark — Signs composed of a letter or a combination of letters — 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, Arts 4 and 8(1)(b)) (see para. 40)

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 — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Weak distinctive character of the earlier mark — Effect (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see para. 54)

5.                     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 GE — Word and figurative marks GE (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see para. 60)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 26 July 2011 (Case R 20/2009-4), relating to opposition proceedings between General Electric Company and Genebre SA.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Genebre SA to pay the costs.