Invalidity · first instance · 2018-11-07
000011191
Contested design: 003459528-0001
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld; the contested Community design is declared invalid, and the holders must pay the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 003459528-0001 wird für nichtig erklärt. Die Inhaber tragen die Kosten der Antragstellerin, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
PaulValentine GmbH
Germany (DE)
Kalmitstraße 18, 67256 Weisenheim am Sand, Deutschland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Frederic Gloth
Germany (DE)
Heiligengeistwall 12, 26122 Oldenburg, Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
anchor bracelet / arm cuff offered for sale
lemonandline.com · Internet Archive Wayback Machine · disclosed 2014-09-15
anchor bracelet / arm cuff offered for sale
3sails.eu · Internet Archive Wayback Machine · disclosed 2016-10-29
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character based on an earlier anchor bracelet disclosed online before the contested design's filing date.
- ›The holders argued the jewellery sector was crowded, small differences mattered, and the contested bracelet differed in section, proportions, and anchor details.
- ›The Division accepted the Internet Archive website extracts as reliable prior disclosure evidence and rejected the holders' Google image search evidence as insufficient to prove market saturation.
- ›It found only minor differences between the designs and held that they created the same overall impression on the informed user, so the contested design lacked individual character.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld, the RCD was declared invalid, and the holders were ordered to pay EUR 750 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberMartin LENZ
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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