Invalidity · first instance · 2018-03-29
000010598
Contested design: 003030881-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; the contested RCD is declared invalid; and the holder must bear the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 0030308810001 is declared invalid. The holder bears the applicant’s costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Hajdù Gabona Zrt
Hungary (HU)
Széchenyi u. 13, 4025 Debrecen, Hungary
Holder · RCD owner
DN Trade Group Ltd.
Bulgaria (BG)
109-A "Tsar Osvoboditel" Road, Office 41, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
Represented by
Prior art cited (3)
Horse-herder graphic used on the applicant's flour packaging in 1 kg, 2 kg and 5 kg paper bags.
Hungary and Romania
Hungarian trade mark used as the prior design for comparison.
Hungarian Trademark Registration No 176859 · Hungarian trade mark register · disclosed 2002-07-29
Hungarian trade mark invoked as a prior right for likelihood of confusion.
Hungarian Trademark Registration No 218863 · Hungarian trade mark register · disclosed 2016-03-29
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on earlier horse-herder packaging and trademarks, and also invoked protected-emblem, confusion, and copyright grounds.
- ›The holder argued the design had distinct visual features, denied any improper use of the Hungarian flag, challenged some evidence quality, and disputed the trademark and copyright claims.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of Hungarian trade mark D3, found the contested design not identical to it, but held that the shared horse-herder motif and tricolour ribbon created the same overall impression.
- ›The application was upheld under Article 25(1)(b) in conjunction with Article 6, the RCD was declared invalid, and the remaining grounds were left unexamined.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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