Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 19 September 2019 –
Società agricola Giusti Dal Col v EUIPO — DMC (GIUSTI WINE)

(Case T‑678/18)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — International registration designating the European Union — Application for protection of the international word mark GIUSTI WINE — Earlier national figurative mark DeGIUSTI - Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

1.      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 19-21)

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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment — Composite mark

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paras 22, 29, 31, 32)

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 — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Assessment of the likelihood of confusion — Determination of the relevant public — Attention level of the public

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paras 23, 26)

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 mark GIUSTI WINE — Word mark DeGIUSTI

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paras 42, 46, 47, 53, 56, 60)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 3 September 2018 (Case R 1154/2017-5), relating to opposition proceedings between DMC and Società agricola Giusti Dal Col.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Società agricola Giusti Dal Col Srl to pay the costs.