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. KGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Industriepark Kalle Albert, Gebäude C 583, Kasteler Str. 45, 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Unger Marketing International, LLCvia PDF extraction
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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