Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 8 September 2010 – Quinta do Portal v OHIM – Vallegre (PORTO ALEGRE)

(Case T-369/09)

Community trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Community word mark PORTO ALEGRE – Earlier national word mark VISTA ALEGRE – Relative grounds for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) and Article 53(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

Community trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds of invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 53(1)(a)) (see paras 19, 30)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 18 June 2009 (Case R 1012/2008-1) concerning invalidity proceedings between Vallegre, Vinhos do Porto, SA and Sociedade Quinta do Portal SA.

Information relating to the case

Registered Community trade mark of which cancellation sought:	Word mark PORTO ALEGRE for goods in Class 33
Proprietor of the Community trade mark:	Sociedade Quinta do Portal, SA
Party requesting the declaration of invalidity of the Community trade mark:	Vallegre, Vinhos do Porto, SA
Trade mark of the party seeking cancellation:	Earlier Portuguese word mark VISTA ALEGRE for goods in Class 33
Decision of the Cancellation Division:	Community word mark PORTO ALEGRE declared invalid
Decision of the Board of Appeal:	Appeal dismissed

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Sociedade Quinta do Portal SA to pay the costs.