Invalidity · first instance · 2018-03-20
000010720
Contested design: 001435499-0005
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld; Registered Community design No 001435499-0005 is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 001435499-0005 wird für nichtig erklärt. Der Inhaber trägt die Kosten der Antragstellerin, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Küberit Profile Systems GmbH & Co. KG
Germany (DE)
Römerweg 9, 58513 Lüdenscheid, Deutschland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Georg Sondermann
Germany (DE)
Biggeseestr. 20a, 57489 Drolshagen, Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (6)
Fußbodenschienen
40200327-0001 · Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt · disclosed 2002-06-25
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on six earlier German design registrations and arguing D1 created the same overall impression.
- ›The holder disputed that the base profile would be invisible in use and argued the contested design differed sufficiently, especially in the shape of the cut-outs.
- ›The Division found D1 had been disclosed before the filing date, rejected the applicant's Article 4(2) visibility argument, and held designer freedom was only partly constrained by function.
- ›Comparing the overall impressions, the Division considered the differences minor and concluded the contested design lacked individual character under Article 6.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld, the contested RCD was declared invalid, and costs were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberStephan HANNE
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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