Invalidity · first instance · 2019-07-02
000009181
Contested design: 000733282-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 0007332820001 is rejected. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Gifi Diffusion
France (FR)
Zone industrielle de la Barbière, BP 79, 47301 Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France
Represented by
Pierre Favel
Holder · RCD owner
Crocs, INC.via PDF extraction
United States (US)
7477 East Dry Creek Parkway, Niwot Colorado 80503, United States of America
Represented by
Prior art cited (6)
wooden shoes
International registration No D051759, design No 1 · International Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2000-07-31
wooden shoes
International registration No D051759, design No 2 · International Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2000-07-31
clogs
International registration No D062646 · International Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2003-03-31
Holey Soles plastic clogs (Aqua Clogs)
http://web.archive.org · Holey Soles website via Internet Archive · disclosed 2002-12-10
shoes
Community design registration No 0000611220001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2003-11-25
C&A clogs
C&A shop in Dusseldorf, Germany · disclosed 2000-09-16
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the contested clog lacked novelty and individual character over designs D18 to D22, saying the fur lining and heel strap differences were purely functional.
- ›Holder contested disclosure of some prior designs and argued each cited design created a different overall impression, especially because none showed the contested design's furred cuff.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D18 to D21 but rejected D22 as unproven, then found the fur lining, absence of heel strap and embossed side trapezoids decisive in the overall impression.
- ›The invalidity grounds under Article 25(1)(b) failed, so the application was rejected and costs were awarded against the applicant.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
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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