Invalidity · first instance · 2019-04-08
000010767
Contested design: 002309229-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 002309229-0003 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 (14)
potato shapes
RCD No 001769167-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2010-11-23
potato shapes
RCD No 002060350-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2012-08-09
potato shapes
RCD No 002060350-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2012-08-09
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
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
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
- ›The applicant alleged lack of individual character over multiple earlier food-related designs, especially D1, and later also raised technical function and overbroad-protection arguments.
- ›The holder replied that the cited designs did not deprive the RCD of individual character, many came from different product sectors, and the later-added grounds and evidence were inadmissible.
- ›The Division refused the late Article 8(1) and additional-design material, excluded the holder's two 2012 RCDs under the Article 7(2) grace period, and assessed individual character mainly against D1 and the remaining cited designs.
- ›It found the contested potato shape created a different overall impression because of its more compact spiral and distinct rough-versus-smooth surface pattern, so the invalidity application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
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