Invalidity · first instance · 2019-11-11
000010585
Contested design: 002778811-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay 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 002778811-0003 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
Rubik’s Brand Limited
United Kingdom (GB)
7 Lambton Place, London W11 2SH, United Kingdom
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
East Sheen Industrial Co., Ltd.
Taiwan (TW)
No. 287-21, Fang Jen Rd., Renwu Dist., Kaohsiung City 814, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Prior art cited (1)
Rubik’s Cube Mini three-dimensional puzzle cube
EUTM No 9 975 681 · EUTM Bulletin No 2011/193 · disclosed 2011-10-11
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character and technical function, and also invoked an earlier 3D EU trade mark for the Rubik’s Cube Mini.
- ›The holder argued the design’s diagonal arrangement of four cube-like bodies created a novel, complex shape, disputed technical-function objections, and noted the earlier trade mark was under challenge.
- ›The Division found the earlier EUTM publication sufficiently disclosed the prior design and considered designer freedom in play cubes to be almost unlimited.
- ›Relying on parallel Board of Appeal reasoning, it held the repeated 2x2 cube pattern created the same overall impression as the earlier design, so the RCD lacked individual character.
- ›The application was upheld in full on Article 25(1)(b) in conjunction with Articles 4(1) and 6, making it unnecessary to examine the remaining grounds.
Deciding panel
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI-ALOISI
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 ↗ |
Locarno classes
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| Case | Date | Outcome | Shared grounds | Locarno | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 000010583 vs East Sheen Industrial Co., Ltd. | 2019-11-11 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b), Art 25(1)(e) | 21 | 10 |
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| 000010880 vs BRICK TOY SRL | 2018-07-10 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b), Art 25(1)(e) | 21 | 10 |
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