Metromerken

GvEA, 10 december 2008, zaak T-290/07, MIP Metro Group Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG tegen OHIM / Metronia, SA (Nederlandse vertaling nog niet beschikbaar).

Gemeenschapsmerken. Oppositie op grond van ouder Duits beeldmerk METRO (o.a. spellen) tegen aanvraag gemeenschapsbeeldmerk METRONIA (arcade spellen e.d.). Het GVeA vernietigt de afwijzende beschikking van het OHIM, omdat er volgens het Gerecht wel sprake is van enige de fonetische overeenstemming en het OHIm die overeenstemming in de beslissing had moeten betrekken. 

"55. It follows from all of the foregoing that, contrary to the Board of Appeal’s findings, there is a certain aural similarity between the conflicting marks, so that the Board of Appeal was wrong to find that there was a complete lack of similarity between the signs at issue and not to analyse the likelihood of confusion between the signs.

56. (…) In that regard, it should be pointed out that, although there will not necessarily always be a likelihood of confusion where two signs are found to be only aurally similar, it is nevertheless conceivable that the marks’ aural similarity alone could create a likelihood of confusion within the meaning of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94. However, the existence of such a likelihood must be established as part of a global assessment as regards the conceptual, visual and aural similarities between the signs at issue and the assessment of any aural similarity is only one of the relevant factors for the purpose of that global assessment.

57. Under those circumstances, the single plea must be upheld and, consequently, the contested decision annulled."

Lees het arrest hier.