Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102319
Contested design: 002622845-0024
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; Registered Community design No. 002622845-0024 is declared invalid; the holder must bear the applicant's costs, fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 002622845-0024 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
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 (1)
double towel rail shown on page 18 of the BRAVAT by Dietsche Badaccessoires 2014-2015 product catalog
Artikelnr. 855210 · BRAVAT by Dietsche Badaccessoires product catalog · disclosed 2014-12-31
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on an earlier towel rail disclosed in the BRAVAT by Dietsche 2014-2015 product catalog.
- ›The holder argued the catalog did not prove publication before the filing date and said the designs differed in proportions and a rounded recess visible on the earlier model.
- ›The Division accepted the catalog as prior disclosure, treating it as published by the end of 2014 and accessible to relevant circles in the bathroom-accessories sector.
- ›It found only minor differences between the towel rails and held that both designs created the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested design lacked individual character and had to be declared invalid.
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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