Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102262
Contested design: 000953492-0025
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusters Nr. 000953492-0025 wird zurückgewiesen. 2. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten der Inhaberin, die auf 400 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
NBL Europe GmbH
Germany (DE)
Monzastr. 4a, 63225 Langen, Deutschland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Erwin Müller GmbH
Germany (DE)
Breslauer Str. 34-38, 49808 Lingen (Ems), Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
wall-mounted soap dish holder
RCD No. 000640636-0014 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2007-01-30
wall-mounted soap dish holder from the applicant's Series 113 bathroom accessories
Article No. 11315A · NBL product catalog excerpts from 2006 · disclosed 2006-12-31
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on its earlier Series 113 soap-dish disclosures and earlier RCD No. 000640636-0014.
- ›The holder argued the evidence did not reliably prove prior public disclosure and that the catalogs, declarations, emails, and orders were undated, uncorroborated, or irrelevant to EU sector circles.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D1 through its publication and D2 through the 2006 applicant catalog, but found the remaining exhibits insufficient to prove further prior disclosures.
- ›Comparing D1 and D2 with the contested design, the Division found clear differences in translucency, proportions, rim treatment, and bowl shape, so the contested RCD remained new and had individual character.
Deciding panel
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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