Clearly unfounded

HvJ EU, beschikking van 15 januari 2010, zaak C-579/08 P, Messer Group GmbH teegn Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Merkenrecht. Oppositieprocedure tegen aanvragen woordmerken Ferromix, Inomix and Alumix o.g.v. oudere woordmerken FERROMAXX, INOMAXX and ALUMAXX (lasgassen). Hof wijst beroep tegen arrest Gerecht af. Opposities toegewezen. De complaints zijn allen ‘clearly unfounded’.

70. It is true that, according to settled case-law, the more distinctive the earlier mark, the greater will be the likelihood of confusion (see Lloyd Schuhfabrik Meyer, paragraph 20, and Waterford Wedgwood v Assembled Investments (Proprietary) and OHIM, paragraph 32). The Court has thus concluded that there may be a likelihood of confusion, notwithstanding a low degree of similarity between the trade marks, where the goods or services covered by them are very similar and the earlier mark is highly distinctive (see Waterford Wedgwood v Assembled Investments (Proprietary) and OHIM, paragraph 33 and case-law cited). However, that possibility cannot preclude a likelihood of confusion where the distinctive character of the earlier mark is weak.

Lees het arrest hier.