Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen v EUIPO - Meissen Keramik (MEISSEN) (Judgment) French Text [2016] EUECJ T-789/14 (14 June 2016)

Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen v EUIPO - Meissen Keramik (MEISSEN) (Judgment) French Text [2016] EUECJ T-789/14 (14 June 2016)

The applicant failed to prove genuine use of the earlier German marks for the contested goods beyond certain porcelain products. The goods covered by the contested mark and the earlier marks are mostly dissimilar, except for a limited overlap in class 19. The common element 'meissen' is of low distinctiveness as it...

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Citation
[2016] EUECJ T-789/14
Parties
Applicant: Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH; Respondent: Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO); Intervener: Meissen Keramik GmbH
Jurisdiction
European Union
Procedural Posture
EUIPO Opposition Appeal / General Court Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Opposition to EU Trademark Registration, Relative Grounds for Refusal, Likelihood of Confusion, Proof of Genuine Use, Distinctiveness of Marks, Reputation of Marks
Intellectual Property Trademarks European Union Law Opposition to EU Trademark Registration Relative Grounds for Refusal Likelihood of Confusion Proof of Genuine Use Distinctiveness of Marks +1 more

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Parties

Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH

Applicant

Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO)

Respondent

Meissen Keramik GmbH

Intervener

Procedural Posture

EUIPO Opposition Appeal / General Court Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the applicant proved genuine use of earlier German marks for the relevant goods
  2. 2 Whether there is a likelihood of confusion between the contested mark and earlier marks under Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009
  3. 3 Whether the earlier mark MEISSEN enjoys reputation and whether Article 8(5) applies

Ratio Decidendi

The applicant failed to prove genuine use of the earlier German marks for the contested goods beyond certain porcelain products. The goods covered by the contested mark and the earlier marks are mostly dissimilar, except for a limited overlap in class 19. The common element 'meissen' is of low distinctiveness as it is perceived as a geographical indication. The visual, phonetic, and conceptual similarity between the marks is below average. There is no likelihood of confusion under Article 8(1)(b), nor was reputation or unfair advantage established under Article 8(5). The Board of Appeal did not err in its assessment.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Application dismissed
  • Applicant to bear its own costs and those of EUIPO and the intervener