Case fileTrademark
Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Jie Chen (GATITA FELIZ)
Sanrio blocked a “happy kitten” cat-head-with-bow mark at the EU office, citing the Hello Kitty face device.
Sanrio Co., Ltd. (opponent),
Plaintiff,
v.
Jie Chen (applicant),
Defendant.
Docket No.Opposition No. B 1 791 691
CourtEUIPO Opposition Division
Filed2011
StatusDecided
The record
- Court
- EUIPO Opposition Division
- Jurisdiction
- European Union
- Docket No.
- Opposition No. B 1 791 691
- Filed
- 2011
- Resolved
- 2011
- Sanrio’s role
- Opposer
- Type
- Trademark
- Claims
- Likelihood of confusion, Art. 8(1) CTMR (earlier Hello Kitty face device, CTM 6 824 701)
- Counsel — plaintiff/petitioner
- Boehmert & Boehmert
- Counsel — Sanrio side
- not public
What happened
Sanrio blocked a “happy kitten” cat-head-with-bow mark at the EU office, citing the Hello Kitty face device.
Outcome
Opposition upheld in full (31 Oct 2011). The “GATITA FELIZ” cat-head-with-bow figurative mark was rejected for classes 18/25/28; applicant to pay EUR 650.
The legal nuance
The bow and the cat-head silhouette were enough; Sanrio’s figurative mark carried it.
Sources of record