Invalidity · first instance · 2018-09-06
000011136
Contested design: 003021633-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 003021633-0001 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
Smeg S.p.A
Italy (IT)
Via Leonardo da Vinci 4, 42016 Guastalla (RE), Italy
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Husky Refrigerator Mfg Co., Ltd
China (CN)
No. 3 Factory, Land No. 9, Shakeng Industrial Zone, Wusha, Daliang Street, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (8)
refrigerator
Italian design application No 000196 · Italian registration certificate
refrigerator
Italian design registration No 1997MI000196-0008 · DesignView
refrigerator
RCD No 002070490-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2014-11-05
refrigerator
RCD No 002070490-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2014-11-05
'SMEG' refrigerators video screenshots
http://www.youtube.com · YouTube
'SMEG' refrigerators website capture
http://www.smeg.it · Internet Archive
'SMEG' refrigerators web pages and blog
web pages and blog
'SMEG' catalogues depicting refrigerators
SMEG catalogues
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the contested refrigerator lacked novelty and individual character over earlier Smeg refrigerator designs and related disclosures, relying on Italian and EU design registrations plus web and catalogue evidence.
- ›Holder filed no observations in reply.
- ›The Division accepted D3 as disclosed prior art, rejected the novelty ground because the differences were not immaterial, but found the designs created the same overall impression given broad design freedom.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested RCD lacked individual character under Article 6(1)(b) CDR; the design was declared invalid and costs were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
- MemberGaile SAKALAITE
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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