Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2023-08-07
R0136/2021-3
Contested design: 005887007-0001
Outcome
The contested decision is set aside, RCD No. 5887007-0001 is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the applicant's costs in the invalidity and appeal proceedings.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Die angefochtene Entscheidung wird aufgehoben. 2. Das GGM Nr. 5887007-0001 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten der Antragstellerin im Nichtigkeits- und im Beschwerdeverfahren.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Westenhorst GmbH & Co. KGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Paulsburg 1-3, 59302 Oelde, Deutschland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
MBG Holding GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Oberes Feld 13, 33106 Paderborn, Deutschland
Prior art cited (3)
dreidimensionale TSV-Flaschenform / THREE SIXTY VODKA bottle-shape mark for vodka
Unionsmarke Nr. 8 485 121 · eSearch-Datenbank des EUIPO · disclosed 2009-11-09
ältere deutsche Marke der Antragstellerin
deutsche Marke Nr. 30 2008 040 066 · DPMA-Datenbank
ältere deutsche Marke der Antragstellerin
deutsche Marke Nr. 30 2008 040 067 · DPMA-Datenbank
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The invalidity applicant argued that the contested vodka-bottle design lacked novelty and individual character and also used its earlier THREE SIXTY VODKA bottle-shape marks, creating confusion.
- ›The holder denied both the design and trade-mark grounds, stressed differences in the bottle surface and details, and relied on pending cancellation and revocation actions against the earlier marks.
- ›The Board held the Article 25(1)(e) plea was sufficiently substantiated at least for EUTM No. 8 485 121, found the contested bottle used a similar earlier sign, and found average visual similarity for identical goods.
- ›Because the earlier mark had enhanced distinctiveness in Germany and the bottles were used for identical vodka goods, the Board found a likelihood of confusion, set aside the first-instance rejection, and declared the RCD invalid.
Deciding panel
- ChairG. Humphreys
- RapporteurE. Fink
- 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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