Likelihood of confusion

Acquired Distinctiveness, Appeal, cancellation, Case law, Confusion, Distinctiveness, EUIPO, Level of similarity of marks, Likelihood of confusion, Similarity of marks, United Kingdom

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The General Court of the European Union (“GCEU”), annulling the Board of Appeal (“BOA”) decision, found that L’Oreal’s K K WATER mark is not confusingly similar to Heinze’s earlier K mark. It was not disputed that the hair treatment goods covered by L’Oreal’s K K WATER mark in Class 3 (a sub-brand of its leading house…

Case law, CJEU, EU trade mark law, EUIPO, European Union, EUTM, Evidence, General Court, Genuine use, Invalidity, Likelihood of confusion, similarity of goods and services, Use requirement

(Lubberger Lehment )/ /Leave a comment

A judgment of the General Court demonstrates the controversial and problematic nature of retail services marks. The ALDI/ALDIANO Case The case concerns Aldi, the discount chain. An Aldi entity (in the following “Aldi”) filed an application for the declaration of invalidity against the EUTM ALDIANO, registered for “alcoholic beverages (except beers)” (class 33). Aldi relied…

Case law, Confusion, Infringement, Likelihood of confusion, United States

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Manufacturer of “Mystic Tan” machines failed to show consumers were likely to be confused by salon’s use of its own solution in Mystic Tan booths. The federal district court in Akron, Ohio, did not err in finding that a manufacturer of tanning booths under the mark “Mystic Tan” failed to show a likelihood of success…

Case law, Infringement, Likelihood of confusion, United States

(Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory US)/ /Leave a comment

In a case of first impression, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Madrid Protocol gave a European company priority of right in a trademark even without prior use in commerce. The Ninth Circuit agreed with the California district court that Bacardi’s use of BACARDI UNTAMEABLE for rum did not as a matter of law infringe…

Case law, Likelihood of confusion, Opposition, United States

(Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory US)/ /Leave a comment

The LEHMAN BROTHERS mark has been used continuously in the course of winding up the affairs of at least one Lehman Brothers affiliated company. In a case involving competing applications to register the mark LEHMAN BROTHERS, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal…

Distinctiveness, Likelihood of confusion, National marks, Opposition, Similarity of marks, Switzerland, Trademark

(MLL Meyerlustenberger Lachenal Froriep AG)/ /Leave a comment

The prince and his prince house – where he lived happily ever after  The Swiss Federal Administrative Court, as the appeal authority in opposition proceedings, supported the decision of the FIIP and ruled that there was a likelihood of confusion between the younger trademark “Prinzenhaus” (engl. prince house) and the earlier trademark “Prinz” (engl. prince)…

General Court, Likelihood of confusion

, (Bugnion S.p.A)/ /Leave a comment

On 21st December 2021, the General Court (GC), in case T-369/20, dealt with “likelihood of association” setting out a double test which seems to be at odds with the previous case law, notably the landmark Sabel case (C-251/95). The EUTM application “CEFA Certified European Financial Analyst” in classes 9 and 41 was opposed on the…

Case law, Denmark, Infringement action, Likelihood of confusion, similarity of goods and services, Similarity of marks

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On 5 November 2021, the Danish Maritime and Commercial High Court (the Court) issued a ruling between Kejser Sausage ApS (‘Kejser Sausage’) and Keyser KBH ApS among others (‘Keyser’). The case concerned Kejser Sausage’s gourmet hot dog stand in Copenhagen, which used the trademark ‘Kejser Sausage’. Elsewhere in Copenhagen, Keyser used the name ‘Keyser Social’…

Case law, Confusion, Germany, Likelihood of confusion, National law, National marks, Similarity of marks, Unfair advantage

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A decision of the German Federal Patent Court dated 13 September 2021 (Case 26 W (pat) 20/20) shows the sometimes thin line between likelihood of confusion and exploitation of the reputation when earlier reputed marks are involved. The mark MARBO RED was filed as German national mark in relation to liquids and flavors for electronic…

General Court, Likelihood of confusion, Reputation

, (Bugnion S.p.A)/ /1 Comment

We surely cannot. With Messi (see cases C-449/18P and C-474/18P MESSI)  and Miley Cyrus (case T‑368/20 MILEY CYRUS), we learnt that reputation or renown of (personal) names is a factor which should be taken in consideration when comparing marks and which may ultimately exclude confusion with an earlier similar mark. However, two recent cases seem…