Invalidity · first instance · 2019-05-06
000011167
Contested design: 003041714-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant's fixed costs of EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 0030417140001 is declared invalid. The holder bears the applicant’s costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
Netherlands (NL)
Olof Palmestraat 1, 2616 LN Delft, Netherlands
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Form-Plastic Spolka z o.o.via PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
ul. Bema 146, 87-720 Ciechocinek, Poland
Prior art cited (1)
IKEA PS 2002 / 'Vållö' watering can shown in IKEA catalogues
IKEA catalogue (Swedish version; corroborated by French, German and Swedish notarised copies)
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on its earlier IKEA PS 2002 / 'Vållö' watering can disclosed in IKEA catalogues since 2003.
- ›Holder disputed proof of disclosure, argued watering can features were largely functional, and maintained the contested design had visible differences and its own individual character.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure through the 2003 IKEA catalogue and supporting notarised copies, finding no evidence undermining their authenticity or public availability.
- ›It found the designer's freedom was not severely limited and the designs created almost identical overall impressions, so the contested design lacked individual character and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberGaile SAKALAITÉ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
- MemberIngeborg MENDIETA VETTER
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 ↗ |
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