Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2024-11-28
R0889/2024-3
Contested design: 008813851-0001
Outcome
The appeal is dismissed; the design holder must bear the costs and fees of the invalidity and appeal proceedings, and the appeal surcharge fee is to be reimbursed.
Show verbatim operative text
Dismisses the appeal; Orders the design holder to bear the costs and fees incurred by the invalidity applicant in the invalidity and appeal proceedings; Orders the reimbursement of the appeal surcharge fee .
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno – Handlowo - Usługowe ‘ANDERS’ Export – Import Setla Wiesławvia PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
Węglowa 21, 34-300 Żywiec, Poland
Represented by
Anna Bożek-Mozgała
Holder · RCD owner
KAZA DESIGN SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCIĄvia PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
UL. ŻYWIECKA 212, 34-325 ŁODYGOWICE, Poland
Prior art cited (1)
Facebook posts showing the 'Ralph wood' table
Facebook profile 'Rosanero' · disclosed 2018-09-22
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The design holder argued on appeal that the contested coffee-table design differed from the prior design in the leg and base structure and top edge, reflecting innovation, limited design freedom, and a crowded market.
- ›The invalidity applicant filed no response to the appeal and relied on its first-instance case that Facebook disclosures of the prior 'Ralph wood' table destroyed individual character.
- ›The Board accepted the Facebook disclosures, found broad design freedom for coffee tables, and held that the shared round wood-like top, black frame, and Y-shaped three-leg base dominated the overall impression.
- ›Minor differences in leg layering and top-edge height were insufficient, so the appeal was dismissed, invalidity for lack of individual character was confirmed, costs stayed with the holder, and the appeal surcharge fee was reimbursed.
Deciding panel
- ChairS. Stürmann
- RapporteurC. Negro
- MemberA. Pohlmann
- RegistrarH. Dijkema
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deGerman | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| esSpanish | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frFrench | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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