Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 7 November 2017 – Frame v EUIPO – Bianca-Moden (BiancalunA)

(Case T-628/15)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for the EU figurative mark BiancalunA — Rejection — Earlier national figurative mark bianca — Relative ground for refusal — No likelihood of confusion — Identity of the goods — Similarity of the signs — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

1.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Annulment or variation for reasons appearing after judgment was delivered – Not included

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 65(2) and 76)

(see para. 24)

2.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Limitation of the list of products and services after the decision of the Board of Appeal – Consequences

(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188 Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 43(1))

(see paras  25-28)

3.      EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU 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 BiancalunA and bianca

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))

(see paras 36, 37, 41, 57, 67, 79, 80)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 7 August 2015 (Case R 2720/2014-5), relating to opposition proceedings between Bianca-Moden and Frame.

Operative part

The Court:

1.      Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 7 August 2015 (Case R 2720/2014-5);

2.      Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Frame Srl;

3.      Orders Bianca-Moden GmbH & Co. KG to bear its own costs.