Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102499
Contested design: 000953492-0028
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusters Nr. 000953492-0028 wird zurückgewiesen. 2. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten der Inhaberin, die auf 400 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
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 tissue box holder from the applicant's 'SERIES 113' bathroom accessory series
Article No. 11373A · NBL 'SERIES 113' product catalog and asserted trade-fair displays
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on an earlier bathroom accessory design allegedly disclosed in its Series 113 catalogs and at trade fairs.
- ›The holder argued the evidence did not prove disclosure because key materials were undated, untranslated, or inconclusive, and in any event the earlier design did not destroy novelty or individual character.
- ›The Division held disclosure under Article 7 must be shown by concrete, objective evidence and found the catalog, fair, and witness materials insufficient individually and cumulatively.
- ›Because prior disclosure of the earlier design was not proven, the invalidity grounds under Article 25(1)(b) in conjunction with Articles 4, 5 and 6 failed, so the application was rejected.
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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