Invalidity · first instance · 2018-09-07
000010814
Contested design: 003813518-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 350.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 003813518-0002 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the applicant’s costs, fixed at EUR 350.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €350
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Songmics Internlational GmbH
Germany (DE)
Grünenplatzstr.16-18, 42899 Remscheid, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
Aukey E-Business Co., Ltdvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
Room 102, Building 9, Huanan Avenue No.1 Huanan City, International Printing Paper Packaging Logistics Zone (a), Pinghu Town, Longgand District, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
José Izquierdo Faces
Prior art cited (2)
garment rack, model HSR01B
ASIN B00YTMX1XI · amazon.co.uk · disclosed 2015-06-04
HOMFA garment rack
disclosed 2017-02-02
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the contested garment-rack design lacked novelty and individual character because an earlier garment rack had been publicly offered online before the filing date.
- ›Applicant relied mainly on Amazon printouts for model HSR01B first available on 4 June 2015, and also cited another similar HOMFA rack.
- ›Holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of the earlier Amazon design, found novelty survived because the decorative top differed, but held those differences did not alter the overall impression.
- ›Because the designer had broad freedom and the overall impression remained the same, the RCD lacked individual character and was declared invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberIngeborg MENDIETA VETTER
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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