Invalidity · first instance · 2018-10-31
000010870
Contested design: 002034009-0009
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 0020340090009 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
Aroma Essence Ltd.
Bulgaria (BG)
rd “Vasil Levski” bl. 8, 6100 Kazanlak, Bulgaria
Represented by
Деян Вълчев Иванов
Holder · RCD owner
Refan Bulgaria Oodvia PDF extraction
Bulgaria (BG)
Karlovsko shose 52, Trud, Bulgaria
Prior art cited (3)
soap bar with embedded sponge
US D612,990 S · US patent document · disclosed 2010-03-30
cleaning sponges
RCD No 001737206-0001 · DesignView
household sponges
RCD No 00288733-0002 · DesignView
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on a US design patent and two earlier RCDs for layered sponges or soap bars.
- ›The holder argued the contested design was new and had individual character because its proportions, layering, outlines, and visible surface features differed from the cited designs.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted disclosure of all three earlier designs but found none identical to the contested RCD, so the novelty ground failed.
- ›The Division also found the informed user would perceive a different overall impression, especially from the thin dark base, larger light upper layer, and distinct surface features.
- ›The application was rejected in full and the applicant was ordered to pay the holder's representation costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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