Invalidity · first instance · 2019-08-14
000102539
Contested design: 000953492-0027
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is rejected; 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. 000953492-0027 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)
Earlier wall-mounted soap basket from the applicant's 'Serie 113' bathroom accessories line.
SERIES 113 / Artikelnr. 11360B · NBL product catalog 'SERIES 113' and alleged trade-fair displays (ISH 2007; International Building & Construction Trade Fair 2008)
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on an earlier soap basket from its 'Serie 113' allegedly disclosed in catalogs, at trade fairs, and through sales documents.
- ›The holder argued that the evidence did not prove any prior public disclosure, challenged the probative value of the affidavits and undated catalogs, and disputed any effect on novelty or individual character.
- ›The Division held that disclosure under Article 7 required concrete, objective proof and found the dated 2008 catalog too late, the untranslated website extract unusable, and the remaining catalogs, fair materials, affidavits, and invoices insufficient to establish prior public availability.
- ›Because no earlier design was proven to have been made available to the public before the filing date, the invalidity application was rejected and costs were awarded against the applicant.
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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