Gerecht EU: Doughnut is niet (overal) beschrijvend

B9 11728. Gerecht EU, 10 oktober 2012, zaak T-569/10, Bimbo tegen OHIM/Panrico (BIMBO DOUGHNUTS).

“The applicant’s argument that knowledge of English in Spain is steadily increasing, particularly among young people, does not refute the fact that, according to the fairly recent study submitted by the applicant itself, almost 50% of Spaniards have no command of any foreign language.”

Merkenrecht. EU-oppositieprocedure o.g.v. (o.a.) Spaanse woord- en beeldmerken DONUT en DOGHNUTS tegen de inschrijving van het woordmerk BIMBO DOUGHNUTS. Het OHIM wees de oppositie toe en het Gerecht bevestigt die beslissing. Het ’doughnuts’ element is ‘wholly meaningless’ voor o.a. relevante Spaanse publiek, dat onbekend is met een begrip als donuts. Het element beschikt daardoor over een gemiddeld onderscheidend vermogen, waardoor verwarringsgevaar aannemelijk is. Naar mening van het Gerecht.

97. In this case, the ’doughnuts’ element, which is almost identical to the earlier trade mark, has an independent distinctive role in the mark applied for. Indeed, contrary to what is claimed by the applicant, that element is not devoid of distinctive character but on the contrary has average distinctive character for the part of the relevant public which is not familiar with English. Furthermore, since the ’doughnuts’ element is wholly meaningless for that consumer, the mark applied for, BIMBO DOUGHNUTS, does not form a unitary whole or a logical unit on its own in which the ‘doughnuts’ element would be merged. The part of the relevant public which is not familiar with English will not be able to understand the sign at issue as meaning that the goods concerned are doughnuts produced by the undertaking Bimbo or by the proprietor of the trade mark BIMBO.

98. There is no relevance in this case in the applicant’s argument that, when the mark whose registration is sought is formed of several elements, one of which is descriptive and identical or similar to an earlier mark, the Court has always decided that registration should be granted. In fact, the ‘doughnuts’ element is not considered descriptive by the part of the relevant public which is not familiar with English.

Lees het arrest hier.