Invalidity · first instance · 2018-08-27
000010558
Contested design: 002929778-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay 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 0029297780001 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
Mill International AS
Norway (NO)
Grini Naeringspark 12, 1361 Østerås, Norway
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Ningbo Heallux International Trading CO., LTD.via PDF extraction
China (CN)
Wisdom Valley Technology Plaza, No. 18 keji Road, Cixi, Ningbo, China
Represented by
Prior art cited (8)
electric heaters
DM/083988-0001 · International Bulletin · disclosed 2014-10-10
electric heaters
DM/083988-0002 · International Bulletin · disclosed 2014-10-10
Mill heater design SG2000MEC arranged horizontally
http://www.millheat.com/mill-floor/sg2000mec · millheat.com · disclosed 2016-12-01
Mill heater design SG2000LED arranged horizontally
http://www.millheat.com/mill-floor/sg2000led · millheat.com · disclosed 2016-12-01
Mill heater design AB-H1000DN arranged vertically
http://www.millheat.com/mill-oil/ab-h1000dn · millheat.com · disclosed 2016-12-01
Mill heater design AB-H1500DN arranged vertically
http://www.millheat.com/mill-oil/ab-h1500dn · millheat.com · disclosed 2016-12-01
Mill heater design AB-H2000DN arranged vertically
millheat.com · disclosed 2016-12-01
Enclosed type oil radiator
DZL 2014 3 0398353.2 · Chinese design patent registration · disclosed 2015-02-11
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued the heater RCD lacked novelty and individual character over earlier heater designs D1-D7 and the Chinese design later treated as D8, stressing the same rectangular body, side controls, grilles, and base.
- ›The holder argued the prior-art field was crowded, designer freedom was limited, and differences in orientation, legs, decoration bars, display, grilles, knobs, handle, and colours created a different overall impression.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D1, D2, and D8 but excluded website printouts D3-D7 as post-filing disclosures; it found the cited designs were not identical to the RCD, so novelty was not destroyed.
- ›The Division held the shared shape, proportions, controls, ventilation, and base dominated the informed user's impression, while the differences were insufficient; the RCD lacked individual character and was declared invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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