Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102441
Contested design: 000953492-0031
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld, the registered Community design No. 000953492-0031 is declared invalid, and 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. 000953492-0031 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)
SINGLE TOWEL RAIL from the applicant's 2006 bathroom accessories catalog (Serie 113)
Article No. 11301A · Applicant product catalog · disclosed 2006-12-31
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying mainly on its earlier 2006 catalog disclosure of the Serie 113 towel rail and related witness statements.
- ›The holder argued the evidence did not prove disclosure, challenged the reliability of the affidavits and catalog dating, and maintained the compared designs had different proportions.
- ›The Division accepted the 2006 catalog extracts as published by the end of 2006 and found the earlier towel rail had been made available to the public before the contested filing date.
- ›Comparing the wall-mounted towel rails, the Division found only minor differences and held that the contested design created no different overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld in full, the contested RCD was declared invalid for lack of individual character, and costs were awarded against the holder.
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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