Invalidity · first instance · 2018-09-25
000101639
Contested design: 004008050-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the applicants' costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 004008050-0001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the applicants’ costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Japan (JP)
1-1, Minami-Aoyama 2-chome, Minato-Ku, 107-8556 Tokyo, Japan
Represented by
Marius Schneider
Holder · RCD owner
Shanghai Enki Intelligent Electric Co., Ltd.
China (CN)
Room 266 Block G 2F No.1 Building, No.1288 Huateng Road, Huaxin Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
lawn mowers
Community design No 001339592-0001 · Office designs bulletin · disclosed 2012-08-22
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicants argued that the contested robotic lawn mower lacked novelty and individual character over their earlier published Community design No 001339592-0001.
- ›The holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Division found the earlier RCD validly disclosed, considered designer freedom broad for the outer shell, and held the differences were minor details that did not alter the overall impression.
- ›It concluded that the contested RCD lacked individual character under Article 6(1)(b) CDR, upheld the application, declared the RCD invalid, and awarded costs against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
Similar decisions
Ranked by shared Locarno class + shared legal grounds + matching outcome. Click a case to view full detail.
| Case | Date | Outcome | Shared grounds | Locarno | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000132204 vs Baofeng LIU | 2026-05-26 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000132185 vs Baofeng LIU | 2026-05-26 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000132064 vs Han Sheng | 2026-05-06 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000131827 vs linbo GAO | 2026-04-28 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000131826 vs linbo GAO | 2026-04-27 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000131787 vs linbo GAO | 2026-04-21 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000131088 vs ZhiAo Zhou | 2026-03-18 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |
| 000129841 vs Suzhou Kingbow Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd | 2026-01-26 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 15 | 8 |