Invalidity · first instance · 2019-06-14
000104259
Contested design: 001892811-0001
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 001892811-0001 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
HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc.
United States (US)
550 S. Winchester Blvd, Suite 515, 95128, San Jose California, United States of America
Represented by
Vilija Viesunaite
Holder · RCD owner
Knoxed Ltd
United Kingdom (GB)
15 Stationfield Industrial Estate, OX5 1JD, Kidlingthon, Oxforshire, United Kingdom
Represented by
Salash Motiani
Prior art cited (2)
word mark 'HDMI'
EUTM No 2 790 970 · disclosed 2004-10-22
figurative mark containing 'HDMI' and 'HIGH DEFINITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE'
EUTM No 2 859 122 · disclosed 2004-11-17
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity under Article 25(1)(e) CDR, arguing that the contested cable-connector design made unauthorised use of its earlier HDMI trade marks.
- ›The holder filed no observations in reply.
- ›The Division compared the figurative HDMI EUTM first and found identical goods, normal distinctiveness, and a highly similar reproduction of the mark's distinctive HDMI element in the contested design.
- ›It concluded that the relevant public would perceive the design as using the earlier trade mark, upheld the invalidity application, and declared the RCD invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
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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