Case T-657/17: Judgment of the General Court of 20 June 2018 – Anabi Blanga v EUIPO — Polo/Lauren (HPC POLO) (EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for registration of the EU word mark HPC POLO — Earlier EU word mark POLO — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of the signs — Distinctive character — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
C2762018EN4610120180620EN0076461461
Judgment of the General Court of 20 June 2018 – Anabi Blanga v EUIPO — Polo/Lauren (HPC POLO)
(Case T-657/17) ( 1 )
‛(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for registration of the EU word mark HPC POLO — Earlier EU word mark POLO — Relative ground for refusal — Likelihood of confusion — Similarity of the signs — Distinctive character — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))’2018/C 276/76Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Gidon Anabi Blanga (Mexico, Mexico) (represented by: M. Sanmartín Sanmartín, lawyer)
Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: K. Zajfert, D. Walicka and A. Folliard-Monguiral, acting as Agents)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: The Polo/Lauren Company LP (New York, New York, United States) (represented by: R. Black, Solicitor, and S. Baran, Barrister)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 14 June 2017 (Case R 2368/2016-1), relating to opposition proceedings between The Polo/Lauren Company and Mr Anabi Blanga.
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mr Gidon Anabi Blanga to pay the costs.
( 1 ) OJ C 437, 18.12.2017.
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