Invalidity · first instance · 2019-10-04
000104579
Contested design: 004009793-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the applicant’s costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 004009793-0001 is declared invalid. The holder bears the applicant’s costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
McCain Foods Limited
CA
8800 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, E7L 1B2, Canada
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
J.R. Simplot Company
United States (US)
1099 W. Front Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, United States of America
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
Internet article showing McCain 'FRY’N DIP' fries
https://www.potatopro.com · PotatoPro · disclosed 2016-04-18
Facebook posts showing McCain potato products identified as 'FRY’N DIP'
McCainBrasil Facebook posts · Facebook
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character, relying on earlier public disclosures of its FRY’N DIP concave potato fries before the claimed priority date.
- ›The holder argued the evidence was unclear and untranslated, the prior shapes were dissimilar, and the designer had broad freedom so the contested design created a different overall impression.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted the internet and Facebook evidence as sufficient proof of prior disclosure under Article 7 and found the relevant informed user to be a consumer of potato products.
- ›Comparing the elongated concave fry shapes, the Division found only minor differences and held that the contested RCD lacked individual character, so the application was upheld in full.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| esespañol (es) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| ititaliano (it) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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