Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102401
Contested design: 000953492-0019
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld; Registered Community design No. 000953492-0019 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. 000953492-0019 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 (4)
toilet roll holder from applicant's 2006 bathroom accessories catalog
Article No. 11343A · applicant product catalog · disclosed 2006-12-31
ZL 200730117710.3 · China
000640636-0009
000640636-0010
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on prior disclosures of its Series 113 toilet roll holder and cited Chinese and Community designs.
- ›The holder argued the evidence did not prove prior disclosure, challenged the dating and reliability of the catalog and affidavits, and asked for the application to be rejected.
- ›The Division found the 2006 catalog extracts corroborated the affidavits and proved public disclosure before the filing date under Article 7 CDR.
- ›Comparing the cited earlier design with the contested RCD, the Division found only minor differences and the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld, the contested RCD was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to pay EUR 750 in costs.
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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