Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102420
Contested design: 000953492-0021
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; the contested Community design 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. 000953492-0021 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)
wall-mounted bathroom shelf from the applicant's 'Serie 113'
Artikelnr. 11351A · NBL product catalog 2006 · disclosed 2006-12-31
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on prior disclosure of its bathroom accessory 'Serie 113', including shelf article 11351A shown in its 2006 catalog.
- ›The holder argued the evidence did not prove disclosure because the catalog lacked a print date, the witness statements came from interested employees, and exhibition or distribution at trade fairs was unproven; it also disputed similarity.
- ›The Division found the catalog extracts consistent with the 2006 cover and sufficiently corroborated by the sworn statements, so the earlier shelf design was disclosed to the public by the end of 2006 under Article 7 CDR.
- ›Comparing the wall-mounted bathroom shelves, the Division found very similar shape, proportions, surface treatment, and mounting supports, creating the same overall impression on the informed user; the contested design therefore 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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