OPPOSITION No B 2 776 329

Sazerac Brands, LLC, 10400 Linn Station Road, Suite 300, Louisville Kentucky 40223, United States of America (opponent), represented by Cooley (UK) LLP, Dashwood 69 Old Broad Street, London, London City of EC2M 1QS, United Kingdom (employee representative)

a g a i n s t

Brandavid Oy, Lapinlahdenkatu 9, 00180 Helsinki, Finland (applicant), represented by Margus Sarap, Kompanii 1C, 51004 Tartu, Estonia (professional representative).

On 24/05/2017, the Opposition Division takes the following

DECISION:

1.        Opposition No B 2 776 329 is rejected in its entirety.

2.        The opponent bears the costs, fixed at EUR 300.

REASONS:

The opponent filed an opposition against all the goods of European Union trade mark application No 15 459 837, namely all of the goods in Class 33. The opposition is based on European Union trade mark registration No 9 296 691, covering goods in Class 33. The opponent invoked Article 8(1)(b) EUTMR.

SHOT DOCTOR	Doctor Spirits
Earlier trade mark	Contested sign

PROOF OF USE

In accordance with Article 42(2) and (3) EUTMR, if the applicant so requests, the opponent must furnish proof that, during the five-year period preceding the date of filing or, where applicable, the date of priority of the contested trade mark, the earlier trade mark has been put to genuine use in the territories in which it is protected in connection with the goods or services for which it is registered and which the opponent cites as justification for its opposition, or that there are proper reasons for non-use. The earlier mark is subject to the use obligation if, at that date, it has been registered for at least five years.

The same provision states that, in the absence of such proof, the opposition will be rejected.

The applicant requested that the opponent submit proof of use of the European Union trade mark registration on which the opposition is based.

The request was filed in due time and it is admissible given that the earlier trade mark was registered more than five years prior to the relevant date mentioned above.

On 07/12/2016 the opponent was given a time limit until 12/02/2017 to file the requested proof of use.

The opponent did not furnish any evidence concerning the use of the earlier trade mark on which the opposition is based. It did not argue that there were proper reasons for non-use either.

According to Rule 22(2) EUTMIR, if the opposing party does not provide such proof before the time limit expires, the Office will reject the opposition.

Therefore, the opposition must be rejected pursuant to Article 42(2) EUTMR and Rule 22(2) EUTMIR.

COSTS

According to Article 85(1) EUTMR, the losing party in opposition proceedings must bear the fees and costs incurred by the other party.

Since the opponent is the losing party, it must bear the costs incurred by the applicant in the course of these proceedings.

According to Rule 94(3) and Rule 94(7)(d)(ii) EUTMIR, the costs to be paid to the applicant are the costs of representation which are to be fixed on the basis of the maximum rate set therein.

The Opposition Division

Judit NÉMETH

Janja FELC

Francesca CANGERI SERRANO

According to Article 59 EUTMR, any party adversely affected by this decision has a right to appeal against this decision. According to Article 60 EUTMR, notice of appeal must be filed in writing at the Office within two months of the date of notification of this decision. It must be filed in the language of the proceedings in which the decision subject to appeal was taken. Furthermore, a written statement of the grounds of appeal must be filed within four months of the same date. The notice of appeal will be deemed to be filed only when the appeal fee of EUR 720 has been paid.

The amount determined in the fixation of the costs may only be reviewed by a decision of the Opposition Division on request. According to Rule 94(4) EUTMIR, such a request must be filed within one month from the date of notification of this fixation of costs and will be deemed to be filed only when the review fee of EUR 100 (Annex I A(33) EUTMR) has been paid.