Invalidity · first instance · 2018-04-05
000010592
Contested design: 001132815-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 001132815-0002 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)
tree-shaped air freshener design
Polish trade mark No 262946 · uprp.pl · disclosed 2003-10-06
tree-shaped air freshener design
International trade mark registration No 945 924 · WIPO · 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's highly stylised outline differed from the more realistic earlier tree design and that prior Office decisions cited by the applicant were not determinative here.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of the earlier trade marks, found designer freedom broad, and compared only shape features because the contested RCD was protected as an outline drawing.
- ›It concluded the contested design sufficiently departed from the prior art to create a different overall impression, so the invalidity application was rejected and costs 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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