Invalidity · first instance · 2019-07-05
000101521
Contested design: 002824540-0002
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is granted; RCD No. 002824540-0002 is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant’s costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 002824540-0002 wird für nichtig erklärt. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten der Antragstellerin, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
PMR Handelsgesellschaft mbH
Germany (DE)
Fennstr. 1, 12439 Berlin, Deutschland
Holder · RCD owner
Soma Group d.o.o.
RS
Terazije 42, 11000 Beograd, Serbien
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
sofa
D082989-0001 / DM/082 989 · Hague Express · disclosed 2014-03-14
sofa
40 2015 202 074-0005 / 40 2014 203520-0001 · DPMA register extract · disclosed 2014-03-14
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity of the contested sofa design for lack of novelty and individual character over earlier international and German sofa designs disclosed before 15 October 2015.
- ›The holder requested rejection, arguing a dense prior art field and several visual differences that allegedly produced a different overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The Division found the earlier design disclosures proven, considered designer freedom not materially constrained, and treated the cited differences as minor against the strong shared angular sofa configuration.
- ›It concluded that the contested design created no different overall impression, lacked individual character under Article 6(1), and had to be declared invalid in full.
Deciding panel
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberIngeborg MENDIETA VETTER
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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