Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Eighth Chamber) of 17 September 2008 – FVB v OHIM – FVD (FVB)

(Case T-10/07)

Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for Community word mark FVB – Earlier national word mark FVD – Relative grounds for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94

Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community 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 (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 51-57)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 6 November 2006 (Case R 1343/2005-4), relating to opposition proceedings between FVD Gesellschaft für Finanzplanung und Vorsorgemanagement Deutschland mbH and FVB Gesellschaft für Finanz- und Versorgungsberatung mbH.

Information relating to the case

Applicant for the Community trade mark:	FVB Gesellschaft für Finanz- und Versorgungsberatung mbH
Community trade mark sought:	Word mark FVB for services in Classes 35 and 36 – Application No 2126175
Proprietor of the mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings:	FVD Gesellschaft für Finanzplanung und Vermögensberatung Deutschland mbH (formerly FVD Gesellschaft für Finanzplanung und Vorsorgemanagement Deutschland mbH)
Mark or sign cited in opposition:	National word mark FVD for services in Class 36.
Decision of the Opposition Division:	Opposition upheld; partial rejection of the application for registration
Decision of the Board of Appeal:	Appeal dismissed

Operative part

The Court:

1.

Dismisses the action;

2.

Orders FVB Gesellschaft für Finanz- und Versorgungsberatung mbH to pay the costs.