Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 27 September 2018.Christos Ntolas v European Union Intellectual Property Office.EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark GN Laboratories — Earlier EU word mark GNC — 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).Case T-712/17.

Judgment // 27/09/2018 // 2 min read
bookmark 80 citations

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 27 September 2018 –Ntolas v EUIPO — General Nutrition Investment (GN Laboratories)

(Case T‑712/17)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark GN Laboratories — Earlier EU word mark GNC — 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))

  1. 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—Criteria for assessment

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

(see paras 19, 20)

  1. 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—Similarity of the marks concerned—Criteria for assessment

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

(see para. 21)

  1. 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—Word marks GN Laboratories and GNC

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

(see paras 23, 25-33)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 July 2017 (Case R 2358/2016-5), relating to opposition proceedings between General Nutrition Investment Co. and C. Ntolas.

Operative part

The Court:

  1. Dismisses the action;

  2. Orders Christos Ntolas to pay the costs.

Trade marks