Invalidity · first instance · 2019-10-08
000106639
Contested design: 006272035-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant’s fixed costs of EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 006272035-0001 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
adidas AG
Germany (DE)
Postfach 1120, 91072 Herzogenaurach, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
Huimei Yevia PDF extraction
China (CN)
No 1 Xinhua three-branch Rd., Chengxi St., Gutian County, Fujian 352200, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (4)
shoe design
registered Community design No 003039619-0006
shoe design
registered Community design No 003039619-0005
shoe model NMD XR1 Duck Camo
Adidas shoe model NMD XR1 Duck Camo · sneakernews.com; sneakerrelease.de; nicekicks.com · disclosed 2016-09-15
shoe design
registered Community design No 003039619-0004
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character, relying on earlier shoe designs D1 to D4 and arguing the contested design copied the NMD line.
- ›Holder filed no observations, so the applicant’s disclosure and comparison arguments were undefended.
- ›The Division accepted D3 as disclosed on dated sneaker websites before the filing date and treated it as the main prior design for assessment.
- ›Given the designer’s broad freedom and the strong similarities in the shoe’s side structure, midsole pattern, heel tab and overall look, the contested design created no different overall impression.
- ›The application was upheld, the RCD was declared invalid in full, and the holder was ordered to bear the applicant’s costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberKelly BENNETT
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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