Invalidity · first instance · 2019-04-08
000010762
Contested design: 002060350-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder’s costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 002060350-0001 is rejected. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
McCain Foods Limited
CA
8800 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick E7L 1B2, Canada
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
J.R. Simplot Company
United States (US)
1099 W. Front Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, United States of America
Represented by
Prior art cited (12)
potato shapes
RCD No 001769167-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2010-11-23
bread
RCD No 001057921-0003 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2009-01-22
food product
UK design registration No 2080321 · Designview · disclosed 1998-07-13
snacks tridimensionali di patate cereali o simili raffiguranti vari soggetti
Italian design registration No 72956 · Designview · disclosed 1997-02-14
farinaceous food pastes
RCD No 000054770-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2003-11-25
charcuterie
RCD No 000935333-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2008-06-16
pasta
RCD No 000860507-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2008-03-17
bakers’ products
RCD No 001727637-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2010-07-08
bouchee alimentaire
French design registration No 945061 · French Intellectual Property Institute database · disclosed 1994-12-30
food for short-headed dogs
US patent application No 2008/0038412 A1 · US patent application publication · disclosed 2008-02-14
Wellenförmiger Snack auf Getreidebasis
German design registration No 49908396-0001 · German Patent and Trade Mark Office design database · disclosed 2000-02-10
fishing lure and bait structure
US patent application No 2007/0101637 A1 · US patent application publication · disclosed 2007-05-10
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued D1 to D12, especially D1 to D3, showed earlier twisted food shapes that created the same overall impression as the contested potato-shape design.
- ›Holder responded that the cited designs came from different sectors and had different shapes, so they did not undermine the RCD’s individual character.
- ›The Division found the late Article 8(1) ground and additional unrelated internet designs inadmissible, but accepted D1 to D12 as sufficiently disclosed under Article 7.
- ›Comparing the contested design with D1 to D3 and the remaining designs, the Division found clear shape differences and a different overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The invalidity application was rejected because the contested RCD retained individual character, and the applicant had to pay EUR 400 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
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