15.5.2017
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 151/35
Judgment of the General Court of 30 March 2017 — Apax Partners UK v EUIPO — Apax Partners Midmarket (APAX PARTNERS)
(Case T-209/16) (1)
((EU trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - Application for the EU word mark APAX PARTNERS - Earlier international word mark APAX - Relative ground for refusal - Likelihood of confusion - Similarity of the services - Article 8(1)(b) and Article 53(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009))
(2017/C 151/45)
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Apax Partners UK Ltd (London, United Kingdom) (represented by: D. Rose and J. Warner, Solicitors)
Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: J. Ivanauskas, acting as Agent)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Apax Partners Midmarket (Paris, France) (represented by: C. Joly, lawyer)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 17 February 2016 (Case R 1611/2014-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Apax Partners Midmarket and Apax Partners UK.
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Apax Partners UK Ltd to pay the costs, including those necessarily incurred by Apax Partners Midmarket for the purposes of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
(1) OJ C 232, 27.6.2016.