Invalidity · first instance · 2019-12-04
000107619
Contested design: 004068989-0006
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 004068989-0006 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
Steffen Kämper
Germany (DE)
Neuenkirchener Str. 35, 33334 Gütersloh, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Hancheng Wei
China (CN)
No 27, Baishi Xincuo, Huadong Village, Daba Town, Puning City, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Isabelle Bertaux
Prior art cited (1)
Keynice Mini USB Clip and Desk Personal Fan
ASIN B01A6X7B4S · Amazon.co.uk and YouTube · disclosed 2016-01-05
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested fan lacked novelty and individual character because the same Keynice clip-and-desk fan had been disclosed online before filing.
- ›The holder filed no observations in reply and did not contest disclosure or the design comparison.
- ›The Division accepted the Amazon and YouTube evidence as solid proof of prior disclosure and found only minor colour and viewpoint differences between the designs.
- ›Given broad designer freedom for fans, those minor differences did not alter the overall impression, so the contested RCD lacked individual character and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberBirgit FILTENBORG
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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