Invalidity · first instance · 2019-04-08
000010770
Contested design: 003135722-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application against registered Community design No 003135722-0001 is rejected.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 003135722-0001 is rejected.
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 (17)
potato shapes
RCD No 001769167-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2010-11-23
potato shapes
RCD No 002309229-0005 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2013-10-09
potato shapes
RCD No 002309229-0007 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2013-10-09
snack food
US design patent No D713,617 S · disclosed 2014-09-23
bread
RCD No 001057921-0003 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2009-01-22
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
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 · 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 · disclosed 2007-05-10
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character over 17 earlier published food-related designs, especially D1 to D4.
- ›Holder argued the cited designs came from different sectors or had materially different shapes and did not deprive the RCD of individual character.
- ›The Division found late-added Article 8(1) and new internet-based designs inadmissible, accepted disclosure of D1 to D17, and assessed individual character under broad designer freedom.
- ›It held the contested potato shape produced a different overall impression from all cited prior designs, so the application was rejected and costs awarded against the applicant.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| esespañol (es) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| ititaliano (it) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
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