Significant differences
According to EUIPO, there are significant differences between the trademarks Marie-Stella-Maris and Marie: the structure, the rhythm and the intonation. The words Stella and Maris likely attract more attention than the rather ‘ordinary’ Marie.
Surname
Moreover, according to EUIPO, in practice, no likelihood of confusion is usually assumed if two trademarks have the same first name (Marie) and a type of surname (Maris) is added to one of them. And the addition of the extra name Stella makes the risk of confusion completely unlikely. In short, the German brewer can simply hit the market with its Marie beer.
Bas Kist
