Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 23 September 2015 —
L’Oréal v OHIM — Cosmetica Cabinas (AINHOA)

(Case T‑400/13)

Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Community word mark AINHOA — Earlier Community and international figurative marks NOA — Relative grounds for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) and 8(5) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Relative grounds for invalidity — Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and (2)(a)(i) and (iii), and 53(1)(a)) (see paras 13-16, 57)

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 between the goods or services in question — Criteria for assessment — Complementary nature of the goods (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a)) (see paras 21, 27)

3.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Relative grounds for invalidity — Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Word mark AINHOA and figurative marks NOA (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a)) (see paras 35-48, 58, 59)

4.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Relative grounds for invalidity — Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — High distinctiveness of the earlier mark — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and (5), and 53(1)(a)) (see para. 50)

5.                     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 — Taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark — Detriment to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier mark — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(5), and 53(1)(a)) (see para. 62)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 6 June 2013 (Case R 1643/2012-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between L’Oréal and Cosmetica Cabinas SL.

Operative part

The Court:

1.     Dismisses the action;

2.     Orders L’Oréal to pay the costs.