Invalidity · first instance · 2019-07-15
000011239
Contested design: 002705236-0004
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 0027052360004 is rejected. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Karla Colletto Swimwear Inc
United States (US)
319-D Mill St. NE, Vienna, Virginia 22180, United States of America
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Lisa Marie Fernandez, LLC
United States (US)
255 Hudson Street, Apartment 4a, New York, New York 10013, United States of America
Represented by
Prior art cited (3)
VPOD: Vintage 1980s Bill Blass Ruffle Swimsuit
http://zuburbia.com/ · Internet Archive Wayback Machine · disclosed 2012-11-13
swimwear design shown on Mouille Swimwear website
http://www.mouille.co.uk/ · Internet Archive Wayback Machine · disclosed 2015-05-02
"In Bloom" swimwear design
http://shelterinteriordesign.blogpost.com · Internet Archive Wayback Machine · disclosed 2014-08-09
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over three earlier publicly disclosed one-shoulder ruffle swimsuit designs, stressing broad designer freedom in women’s swimwear.
- ›The holder challenged whether the Wayback Machine materials proved disclosure and argued the cited swimsuits differed materially, while modesty and fit requirements constrained design freedom.
- ›The Division accepted Annexes 1 to 3 as reliable internet disclosures under Article 7(1) CDR because the archived webpages showed the designs online before the contested RCD filing date.
- ›It found visible differences in seams, leg openings, ruffle proportions, and the absence of rear views in the earlier designs, leading to a different overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The invalidity ground under Article 25(1)(b) CDR failed, so the application was rejected and the applicant was ordered to pay EUR 400 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberGaile SAKALAITÉ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
- 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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