Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2024-09-02
R0420/2023-3
Contested design: 002778647-0001
Outcome
The contested decision is annulled and the case is remitted to the Invalidity Division to continue the invalidity proceedings.
Show verbatim operative text(es)
1. Anular la resolución impugnada. 2. Remitir el asunto a la División de Anulación para continuar con el procedimiento de nulidad.
CostsEach party bears its own costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Kinya Solutions, Lda.via PDF extraction
Portugal (PT)
Eco-Parque Empresarial de Estarreja Rua de Veiros, n.º 11 3860-529 Estarreja Portugal
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Polímeros Gestión Industrial, S.L.via PDF extraction
Spain (ES)
Autovía A-4, Km 412 14013 Córdoba España
Represented by
Prior art cited (4)
Spanish validation of the European patent for a modular polycarbonate roofing panel corresponding to the contested design
ES 2 848 121 T3 / EP 3 290 613 / ES 201 530 498 U · Spanish utility model priority / European patent validation · disclosed 2015-04-30
Website extracts showing the holder's panels
https://polimerosgi.com/producto/polime · holder website · disclosed 2021-10-18
Patent application containing graphical representations of a panel design
DE 10 208 687 A1 · German patent publication · disclosed 2003-09-25
Spanish translation of a European patent application containing graphical representations of a panel design
EP 98 940 413.2 · European patent publication · disclosed 2000-06-28
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The holder appealed, arguing the design was not dictated exclusively by technical function, formed part of a modular roofing system, remained visible in normal use, and was novel over the cited disclosures.
- ›The invalidity applicant maintained that the contested design was purely functional, not protected by the modular-system exception, insufficiently visible as a component, and lacked novelty and individual character.
- ›The Board found the panel's connection features fell within Article 8(2) and that the holder had shown the design served multiple connections of interchangeable products within a modular system under Article 8(3).
- ›Because the Invalidity Division had not examined novelty and individual character for the modular-system exception, the Board annulled the decision, remitted the case, and ordered each party to bear its own appeal costs.
Deciding panel
- ChairS. Stürmann
- RapporteurS. Rizzo
- MemberC. Negro
- RegistrarH. Dijkema
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| ititaliano (it) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| esSpanish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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