Invalidity · first instance · 2018-03-27
000010591
Contested design: 001132815-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder’s costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 001132815-0001 is rejected. 2. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Julius Sämann Ltd.
Switzerland (CH)
c/o de la cruz beranek Rechtsanwälte AG, Industriestrasse 7, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
KUBI, spol. s.r.o.
Czechia (CZ)
Pod nemocnicí 3, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Represented by
Martin Kořistka
Prior art cited (2)
earlier tree-shaped air freshener design
Polish trade mark application No 262 946 · Polish Patent Office database (uprp.pl) · disclosed 2003-10-06
earlier tree-shaped air freshener design
International trade mark registration No 945 924 · WIPO database · disclosed 2008-01-17
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character over earlier Polish and international trade marks depicting a tree-shaped air freshener, arguing broad designer freedom in the sector.
- ›The holder argued the contested design had already survived related challenges and created a different overall impression through its highly simplified, stylised tree outline and market-specific functional constraints.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted disclosure of the cited trade marks, found the designer’s freedom broad, and compared only the protected shape features of the contested outline drawing against the prior design.
- ›It concluded the contested design departed sufficiently from the more realistic prior tree design to create a different overall impression, so invalidity was rejected and costs were awarded against the applicant.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVA
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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