Invalidity · first instance · 2020-03-09
000105239
Contested design: 002701359-0001
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 002701359-0001 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
André Walentavia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Chiemgaustraße 136, 81549 Mänchen, Germany
Represented by
Nadine Friese
Holder · RCD owner
Baltag Raduvia PDF extraction
Romania (RO)
Str.Fagetului, Nr.20-C, Oradea, Romania
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
mouthguard
JADA, Vol. 132, July 2001 · Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA)
mouthguards already known and used in sports
Wikipedia article · Wikipedia
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on earlier mouthguard disclosures including a JADA article and a Wikipedia article.
- ›The holder disputed the reliability of Wikipedia, argued the design had individual character, and denied that the shape was solely dictated by technical function.
- ›The Division accepted the JADA journal publication as sufficient prior disclosure and found the informed user would perceive only minor differences between the designs.
- ›Given the designer's limited freedom for mouthguards, those minor differences did not create a different overall impression.
- ›The application was upheld, the RCD was declared invalid under Article 25(1)(b) in conjunction with Article 6 CDR, and the holder was ordered to pay costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- MemberBirgit FLTENBORG
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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