Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 18 June 2013 — Rocket Dog Brands v OHIM — Julius-K9 (K9 PRODUCTS)

(Case T‑338/12)

Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Community figurative mark K9 PRODUCTS — Earlier Community figurative mark K9 — Relative grounds for refusal — No likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) 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 — Assessment of the likelihood of confusion — Criteria (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 15, 46)

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 — Figurative marks K9 PRODUCTS and K9 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 18, 19, 29, 34, 48-50, 61, 62)

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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment — Complex mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 21-23)

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 — Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark — Weighting of the marks concerned — Taking into account of the intrinsic characteristics of the signs or the conditions in which the goods or services are marketed (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see para. 47)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 21 March 2012 (Case R 1961/2011-4), relating to opposition proceedings between Rocket Dog Brands LLC and Julius-K9 bt.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Rocket Dog Brands LLC to pay the costs.