ECJ kicks Golden Balls back to OHIM

The ECJ has handed down its judgment in Intra-Presse SAS v Golden Balls, partially setting aside the judgments of the General Court regarding the registration of GOLDEN BALLS as a CTM. With the trademark battle between Intra-Presse and Golden Balls entering its eighth year, OHIM must now reassess whether GOLDEN BALLS may be registered, giving consideration to whether its similarity with the mark BALLON D’OR, albeit low, is sufficient for the public to establish a link between the two marks.