Judgment of the General Court of 16 October 2018 — VF International v EUIPO — Virmani (ANOKHI)

(Case T-548/17) (1)

((EU trade mark - Opposition proceedings - Application for EU figurative trade mark ANOKHI - Earlier EU figurative mark kipling - Earlier EU figurative mark representing the silhouette of a monkey - Relative ground for refusal - Likelihood of confusion - Similarity of the signs - Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 EU) - Damage to reputation - Article 8(5) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(5) of Regulation 2017/1001)))

(2018/C 436/65)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: VF International Sagl (Stabio, Switzerland) (represented by: T. van Innis, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: P. Sipos, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO: Ken Virmani (Munich, Germany)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 May 2017 (Case R 2307/2015-4) relating to opposition proceedings between VF International and Mr Virmani.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.	Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 26 May 2017 (Case R 2307/2015-4);

2.	Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by VF International Sagl.

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(1)  OJ C 347, 16.10.2017.