B9 10196. Gerecht EU, 28 september 2011, zaak T‑356/10, Nike International Ltd tegen OHIM / Deichmann SE.
Merkenrecht. Oppositieprecedure o.g.v. oudere Duitse en internatinale woordmerken VICTORY (schoeisel) tegen de inschrijving van het EU-woordmerk VICTORY RED (golf-artikelen) van Nike (wat weer Grieks is voor ‘victorie’). Oppositie toegewezen. “It cannot be argued that the term ‘victory’ is indirectly descriptive or strongly suggestive of the goods at issue. At most, it may be held that it alludes to the efficiency of the sporting articles in question. (…) Since (…) on the one hand, the element ‘victory’ visually and phonetically occupies a dominant place in the mark applied for and, on the other hand, it is not descriptive of the goods at issue, it must be held that, as that element is common to both the marks at issue, its clear suggestive nature in the mind of the relevant public increases the degree of similarity between those marks. (...) it must be concluded that the Board of Appeal was justified in holding that there was a likelihood of confusion, for the average consumer, between the marks at issue, when considered overal." De soortgelijkheid van de waren is niet betwist.
Lees het arrest hier.
