Judgment of the General Court of 10 November 2021 –AC Milan v EUIPO – InterES (ACM 1899 AC MILAN)

(Case T-353/20) ¹

(European Union trade mark – Opposition proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Figurative mark ACM 1899 AC MILAN – Earlier national word marks Milan – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Proof of genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001) – No alteration of distinctive character)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Associazione Calcio Milan SpA (AC Milan) (Milan, Italy) (represented by: A. Perani and G. Ghisletti, lawyers)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: A. Söder, V. Ruzek and D. Hanf, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO: InterES Handels- und Dienstleistungs Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (Nuremberg, Germany)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 February 2020 (Case R 161/2019-2), relating to opposition proceedings between InterES Handels- und Dienstleistungs Gesellschaft and AC Milan.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders Associazione Calcio Milan SpA (AC Milan) to pay the costs, with the exception of the travel expenses incurred by the latter;

Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear the travel expenses incurred by AC Milan.

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¹     OJ C 262, 10.8.2020.