Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2020-02-26
R0740/2018-3
Contested design: 002555425-0002
Outcome
The appeal is dismissed; the design holder is ordered to bear the invalidity applicant's costs, fixed at EUR 1,250 in total.
Show verbatim operative text
1. Dismisses the appeal; 2. Orders the design holder to bear the costs incurred by the invalidity applicant in the invalidity and appeal proceedings; 3. Fixes the costs to be paid by the design holder to the invalidity applicant for the invalidity and the appeal proceedings at EUR 1 250.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €1,250
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
ORBEN Wasseraufbereitung GmbH & Co. KG
Germany (DE)
Industriepark Kalle Albert, Gebäude C 583, Kasteler Str. 45, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Unger Marketing International, LLC
United States (US)
425 Asylum Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, United States of America
Prior art cited (10)
Water purifier (companion RCD)
RCD No 2 555 425-0001 · DesignView / EUIPO · disclosed 2015-02-03
HydroPower DI filter bag water purifier
DE 20 2015 007 200 U1 · German Patent and Trademark Office · disclosed 2016-02-18
Pure water systems with filter bag
PCT/US2015/025386 · WIPO · disclosed 2015-10-15
Cartoon publication containing image of bag-like object
Walt Disneys Donald Duck Nr. 379 · Germany · disclosed 1987-01-01
German utility model (design)
M9701686-0001 · German Patent and Trademark Office · disclosed 1997-08-09
Water treating apparatus
US 2 278 488 · USPTO · disclosed 1942-04-07
Cartoon publication containing image
Walt Disneys Lustiges Taschenbuch Nr. 210 · Germany · disclosed 1995-01-01
Cartoon publication containing image
Walt Disneys Donald Buch Nr. 378 · Germany · disclosed 1987-01-01
Registered Community design
RCD No 389 838-0031 · EUIPO eSearch · disclosed 2005-10-04
Registered Community design
RCD No 389 838-0032 · EUIPO eSearch · disclosed 2005-10-04
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Design holder (Unger Marketing) appealed the Invalidity Division's declaration of invalidity of water-purifier filter-bag RCD No 2 555 425-0002, arguing that at least some features were chosen for aesthetic reasons (sleekness and simplicity) and that design alternatives existed; submitted designer's affidavit as new evidence.
- ›Invalidity applicant (ORBEN) argued the affidavit is not an objective circumstance; the same designer is listed as inventor in the utility model and patent application, demonstrating all features are of technical nature; the product is invisible during use further confirming purely technical motivation.
- ›The Board applied DOCERAM criteria and found all five essential features of the filter bag (filled bag shape, circular/elliptical form, lace closure, multitude of pleats) are documented in the patent application as serving specific technical functions (sealing engagement, water filtration efficiency); the affidavit does not establish aesthetic considerations; multiplicity of form theory no longer decisive; design holder unable to rebut technical function of any feature.
- ›Appeal dismissed; RCD invalid under Article 8(1) CDR; design holder ordered to pay EUR 1,250 (EUR 500 appeal representation + EUR 400 invalidity representation + EUR 350 invalidity fee).
Deciding panel
- ChairTh. M. Margellos
- MemberE. Fink
- MemberH. Salmi
- RegistrarM. Chaleva
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| esespañol (es) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| ititaliano (it) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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