Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2018-06-29
R2215/2016-3
Contested design: 001339246-0009
Outcome
The contested decision is annulled, the invalidity application is rejected, and the invalidity applicant is ordered to bear the costs of the invalidity and appeal proceedings.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Die angefochtene Entscheidung wird aufgehoben. 2. Der Antrag auf Erklärung der Nichtigkeit wird zurückgewiesen. 3. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten des Nichtigkeits- und des Beschwerdeverfahrens
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Atos Medical GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Mülheimer Straße 3-7, D-53840 Troisdorf, Deutschland
Holder · RCD owner
Andreas Fahl Medizintechnik-Vertrieb GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
August-Horch-Str. 4a, D-51149 Köln, Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (7)
Technische Zeichnung 'Adhesive Disc, Flexiderm, Oval' (approved 1995-04-07) — tracheostomy patch
Internal technical drawing (Atos Medical AB) · disclosed 1995-04-07
Technische Zeichnung 'Adhesive Disc, Flexiderm, Oval' (approved 1998-04-14) — tracheostomy patch with pull-tab
Internal technical drawing (Atos Medical AB) · disclosed 1998-04-14
Technische Zeichnung 'Adhesive Disc, Flexiderm, Oval' (approved 2000-05-10) — tracheostomy patch; corroborated by product catalogues 2002/2003 and 2005
Atos Medical AB product catalogues 2002/2003 and 2005 (FlexiDerm/OptiDerm) · disclosed 2000-01-01
Technische Zeichnung 'Adhesive Disc, Flexiderm, Oval' (released 2008-06-23)
Internal technical drawing (Atos Medical AB) · disclosed 2008-06-23
Technische Zeichnung 'Adhesive Disc, Optiderm, Oval' (released 2008-06-23)
Internal technical drawing (Atos Medical AB) · disclosed 2008-06-23
Eidesstattliche Versicherung VP Development & Operations, Atos Medical AB — FlexiDerm tracheostomy patch sold since 2000
Atos Medical AB sworn declaration (limited evidential value alone) · disclosed 2000-01-01
Deutsche Patentoffenlegungsschrift — tracheostomy patch (circular form)
DE 10 2010 048 316 A1 · Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt · disclosed 2012-04-19
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The design holder (appellant) argued the first-instance decision incorrectly found lack of individual character; specifically, the oval shape with the off-centre opening and the right-angle wing-tabs of the contested RCD (tracheostomy patch No 1339246-0009) differ markedly from the prior designs, and most prior art evidence (technical drawings and a company declaration) was not properly disclosed.
- ›The invalidity applicant (respondent) contended that the contested design is merely an elongated version of the prior round designs; the informed user focuses on function over form; and the opening's position is technically determined.
- ›The Board found that only two prior designs were adequately proved as disclosed: D1 (AS4 — corroborated by 2002/2003 and 2005 product catalogues) and D2 (German patent application). Both differ from the contested RCD in shape, wing-tab form, and placement of the opening; given restricted designer freedom, the informed user would notice these differences, producing different overall impressions.
- ›The first-instance invalidation decision is annulled; the contested RCD has individual character; the invalidity applicant bears costs.
Deciding panel
- ChairTh. M. Margellos
- RapporteurE. Fink
- MemberC. Rusconi
- RegistrarH. Dijkema
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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