Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 5 December 2013 —
Olive Line International v OHIM — Carapelli Firenze (Maestro de Oliva)

(Case T‑4/12)

Community trade mark — Opposition procedure — International registration designating the European Community — Figurative mark Maestro de Oliva — Earlier national word mark MAESTRO — Genuine use of the earlier mark — Likelihood of confusion — Articles 8(1)(b) and 15(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark — Subject-matter and material scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 15(1)(a)) (see paras 23‑25)

2.                     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 — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 42, 43, 81)

3.                     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 Maestro de Oliva and word mark MAESTRO (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 45, 67, 73, 77, 80, 87‑89)

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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment — Complex mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 47‑52)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 21 September 2011 (Case R 1612/2010‑2), concerning an opposition procedure between Carapelli Firenze SpA and Olive Line International, SL.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Olive Line International, SL to pay the costs.