Invalidity · first instance · 2018-04-05
000010278
Contested design: 002753368-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant's fixed costs of EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 002753368-0001 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
Formaster S.A.
Poland (PL)
ul. Fabrycna 24, 25-818 Kielce, Poland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Seventh Generation Ventures, Inc.
United States (US)
60 Lake St., Burlington 05401, United States of America
Prior art cited (1)
'dafi' water filtering bottle shown at the applicant's Aquatech China 2014 booth
Aquatech China 2014 trade fair, Shanghai · disclosed 2014-06-25
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, and also invoked an earlier copyright-based entitlement to the bottle design.
- ›The holder disputed prior disclosure, argued the bottle was new and had individual character, relied on US design patent prior art, and requested rejection plus oral proceedings.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted disclosure of the applicant's 'dafi' bottle at Aquatech China 2014, rejected the novelty ground, but found the shared bottle shape created the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld under Article 25(1)(b) in conjunction with Article 6, the RCD was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to pay costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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