Language of document : ECLI:EU:T:2008:51





Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Second Chamber) of 27 February 2008 – Citigroup v OHIM – Link Interchange Network (WORLDLINK)

(Case T-325/04)

Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for Community word mark WORLDLINK – Earlier national figurative mark LiNK – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Restriction of services covered in the trade mark application – Identity of services – Similarity of signs – Articles 73 and 74 of Regulation (EC) No 40/94

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 (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 95-96, 101)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 18 May 2004 (Case R 789/2002-1) relating to opposition proceedings between Link Interchange Network Ltd and Citigroup, Inc.

Information relating to the case

Applicant for the Community trade mark:

Citigroup, Inc.

Community trade mark sought:

Word mark WORLDLINK for goods and services in Classes 9, 16 and 36 – Application No 111880

Proprietor of the mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings:

Link Interchange Network Ltd

Mark or sign cited in opposition:

National figurative mark LiNK for goods in Class 36

Decision of the Opposition Division:

Application for registration dismissed for goods in Class 36: financial and monetary matters

Decision of the Board of Appeal:

Appeal dismissed


Operative part

The Court:

1.

Dismisses the action;

2.

Orders Citigroup, Inc. to pay the costs.