Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2023-02-16
R0878/2022-3
Contested design: 002148726-0001
Outcome
The appeal is dismissed and the invalidity applicant must bear the costs of the invalidity and appeal proceedings.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
Die Beschwerde wird zurückgewiesen. Die Nichtigkeitsantragstellerin trägt die Kosten des Nichtigkeits- und Beschwerdeverfahrens.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Wintersteiger AGvia PDF extraction
Austria (AT)
J.-M. Dimmelstraße 9, 4910 Ried im Innkreis, Österreich
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Lenz Ges.m.b.Hvia PDF extraction
Austria (AT)
Staudachstr. 3, 6858 Schwarzach/Vorarlberg, Österreich
Represented by
Prior art cited (28)
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0001 · disclosed 2003-02-10
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0002 · disclosed 2003-02-10
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0003 · disclosed 2003-02-10
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0004 · disclosed 2003-02-10
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0005 · disclosed 2003-02-10
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0006 · disclosed 2003-02-10
placket for clothing with snap-fastener halves
German design No 40207716-0007 · disclosed 2003-02-10
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 13338-0001 · disclosed 2001-08-31
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-001 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-002 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-003 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-004 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-005 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-006 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
French design No 25387-007 · disclosed 2003-02-14
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
Italian design No 2001TOO000169-0001 · disclosed 2001-03-15
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
Italian design No 2001TOO000169-0002 · disclosed 2001-03-15
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
Italian design No 2001TOO000169-0003 · disclosed 2001-03-15
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
Italian design No 2001TOO000169-0005 · disclosed 2001-03-15
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
Italian design No 2001TOO000169-0006 · disclosed 2001-03-15
snap-fastener strip / clothing placket
Italian design No 2001T00000169-0007 · disclosed 2001-03-15
snap fasteners; straps for garments; decorations for leather goods
RCD No 1250088-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2011-03-07
online disclosure relied on for snap-fastener clothing element
instructables.com · www.instructables.com · disclosed 2019-11-28
Amazon offer for product with snap-fastener strip
ASIN B00G99ZBNM · Amazon.de · disclosed 2011-03-15
YouTube video showing relevant snap-fastener product
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDbbWMzbZZc · YouTube · disclosed 2011-02-18
design patent relied on as prior design for snap-fastener arrangement
US Design Patent D473.158 · USPTO · disclosed 2003-04-15
design patent relied on as prior design for snap-fastener arrangement
US Design Patent D481.654 · USPTO · disclosed 2003-11-04
design patent relied on as prior design for snap-fastener arrangement
US Design Patent D489.292 · USPTO · disclosed 2004-05-04
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The invalidity applicant argued that the heated-sock cuff design was invisible in normal use as part of a complex product, was solely technical or must-fit, lacked novelty and individual character over numerous earlier snap-fastener designs, and offended public policy.
- ›The holder replied that the sock cuff remains visible during ordinary use, the rectangular patch, three vertically aligned eyelets and white consumer information reflect aesthetic choices, and the earlier designs differ materially.
- ›The Board rejected the grounds under Articles 4(2), 8(1), 8(2) and 9 CDR and held that, except for D23, the older designs were disclosed but did not show the same rectangular fabric patch with three vertical snap-eyelets and printed white information on a heated sock cuff.
- ›The appeal was dismissed because the contested RCD retained individual character and the invalidity applicant was ordered to bear costs.
Deciding panel
- ChairG. Humphreys
- RapporteurA. Pohlmann
- MemberC. Bartos
- RegistrarH. Dijkema
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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