Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 15 October 2014 —
El Corte Inglés v OHIM — English Cut (The English Cut)

(Case T‑515/12)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for Community word mark The English Cut — Earlier national word and Community figurative marks El Corte Inglés — Relative grounds for refusal — No likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — No likelihood of association — Connection between the signs — No similarity between the signs — Article 8(5) of Regulation No 207/2009

1.                     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 15-17)

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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see para. 21)

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 — Word mark The English Cut — Word and figurative marks El Corte Inglés (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 28, 29, 33)

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 enjoying a reputation — Protection of well-known earlier mark extended to dissimilar goods or services — Conditions (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(5)) (see para. 38)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 6 September 2012 (Case R 1673/2011-1) relating to opposition proceedings between El Corte Inglés SA and The English Cut S.L.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders El Corte Inglés SA to pay the costs.