Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Third Chamber) of 21 November 2007 – Wesergold Getränkeindustrie v OHIM – Lidl Stiftung (VITAL FIT)
(Case T-111/06)
Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for the Community figurative mark VITAL FIT – Earlier national word mark VITAFIT – Relative ground for refusal – Likelihood of confusion – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 – Right to a fair hearing – Obligation to state reasons
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 39, 42, 45-47)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 16 February 2006 in Case R 3/2005-2 relating to opposition proceedings between Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG and Wesergold Getränkeindustrie GmbH & Co. KG.
Information relating to the case
Applicant for the Community trade mark:
Wesergold Getränkeindustrie GmbH & Co. KG
Community trade mark sought:
Figurative mark VITAL FIT for goods in Class 32 – Application No 1457951
Proprietor of the mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings:
Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG
Mark or sign cited in opposition:
National word mark VITAFIT for goods in Class 32 – Application No 1050163
Decision of the Opposition Division:
Opposition upheld
Decision of the Board of Appeal:
Appeal dismissed
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Wesergold Getränkeindustrie GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.
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