Applicant for Community trade mark:

The applicant

Community trade mark sought:

Word mark ‘GERONIMO STILTON’ for goods and/or services in Class 16 (books etc.), Class 25 (clothing etc.), Class 28 (games etc.), Class 29 (meat etc.), Class 30 (cake dough etc.) and Class 41 (services rendered in the field of education etc.) – Application No 1345503

Proprietor of mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings:

The Stilton Cheese Makers Association

Mark or sign cited in opposition:

National word mark ‘STILTON’; registered designations of origin WHITE STILTON CHEESE and BLUE STILTON CHEESE

Decision of the Opposition Division:

Opposition allowed for Classes 29 and 30

Decision of the Board of Appeal:

The Board of Appeal held that as a result of amendments to the specification of the relevant goods, in accordance with a joint letter from the parties of 4 June 2004, the opposition had been withdrawn and the proceedings had therefore been terminated. Since according to the Board of Appeal, the only question to be decided was the allocation of costs, each party was ordered to bear the fees and expenses of the opposition and appeal proceedings which it had itself incurred.

Pleas in law:

In support of its application, the applicant submits that the letter of 4 June 2004 contained only an application for a stay of the proceedings in order to allow the parties to resolve between themselves the issue, which is still in dispute, namely which other goods apart from dairy products and cheese should be removed from Class 29 in order to enable the party in opposition to withdraw its opposition. The Board of Appeal erred in holding that the applicant, having accepted the application for a stay of proceedings, had agreed to what the party in opposition was requesting.