Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 26 May 2016 —

Aldi Einkauf v EUIPO — Dyado Liben (Casale Fresco)

(Case T‑254/15)

‛EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark Casale Fresco — Earlier EU word mark FREZCO — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009’

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 18-20)

2. 

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 Casale Fresco and FREZCO (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 22, 23, 52, 53)

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 — Similarity of the marks concerned — Criteria for assessment — Composite mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b)) (see paras 31, 32, 34, 35)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 11 March 2015 (Case R 1138/2014-4) concerning an application for registration of the word sign Casale Fresco as an EU trade mark.

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co. OHG to pay the costs.