Background of the case
The trademark Schweppes has its origin in United Kingdom. Initially it was registered in the name of Cadbury Schweppes (owner back in time of all the SCHWEPPES´s trademarks in all countries conforming the European Economic Area). Afterwards, Cadbury sold to Coca Cola in some territories of the EU the ownership keeping among others, Spain. Cadbury Schweppes merged into the French company Pernord Ricard, creating a new entity named Orangina Schweppes Group. This company was…
On June 16 2010, the applicant, Gibson Brands Inc., filed an application for a tridimensional EU trademark which represented the shape of a guitar body as follows:
The goods embodied in the application of the EUTM, are those in Class 9, 15 and 25. In particular is sought the protection of musical instruments (Class 15).
EUIPO accepted the registration of the subject mark on July 20, 2010 under Registration No. 9179953. On October 7, 2014, a third party filed an action for a declaration of…