Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102403
Contested design: 000953492-0029
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, RCD No 000953492-0029 is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 000953492-0029 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)
SWIVEL TOWEL HOLDER from the applicant's 2006 product catalog for the 'Serie 113' bathroom accessory range
Artikelnr. 11308A · NBL 2006 product catalog · disclosed 2006-12-31
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for a bathroom towel-holder design, arguing lack of novelty and individual character based on prior disclosures, including its 2006 catalog and earlier designs.
- ›The holder argued that the evidence did not prove disclosure, challenged the date and reliability of the catalog and affidavits, and asked for the application to be rejected.
- ›The Division accepted the catalog extracts, read together with the affidavits, as sufficient proof that the earlier towel-holder design had been disclosed to the public before the filing date.
- ›Comparing the earlier design with the contested RCD, the Division found only minor differences and the same overall impression on the informed user, so the RCD lacked individual character and was invalidated.
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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