Invalidity · first instance · 2019-07-19
000011193
Contested design: 003521053-0015
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 003521053-0015 is rejected. 2. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Calitex S.A.
France (FR)
70, rue de Douai, 59405 Cambrai Cedex, France
Represented by
David Lefranc
Holder · RCD owner
Van Der Haegen & Neckebroeck, BVBAvia PDF extraction
Belgium (BE)
Pamelstraat Oost 450, 9400 Ninove, Belgium
Represented by
Christian Defauw
Prior art cited (1)
plastic tablecloth design allegedly disclosed through a Chinese catalogue, Canton Fair presentation, and subsequent offers and sales
TB 1638 / Fond Marin · Jiangsu Star Dream Household Products / Manhing Plastics / Canton Fair / applicant emails and sales materials · disclosed 2016-09-20
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and later lack of individual character, relying on the earlier TB 1638 or Fond Marin tablecloth design allegedly disclosed before the RCD filing date.
- ›The holder said it had commissioned the design earlier, only authorized manufacture, and argued the applicant's evidence showed unauthorized disclosures, unreliable catalogue material, and no qualifying public disclosure.
- ›The Division held the alleged manufacturer transfers and later offers or sales fell under confidentiality and grace-period exceptions, and the catalogue evidence did not reliably prove availability to relevant EU circles.
- ›Because prior disclosure under Article 7 was not proven, the Division did not examine novelty or individual character further and rejected the invalidity application.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVA
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
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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