Invalidity · first instance · 2020-05-19
000106819
Contested design: 002874644-0006
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 002874644-0006 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
THEBEN AGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Postfach 56, 72394 Haigerloch, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
WENZHOU ALION ELECTRONICS CO.,LTD.via PDF extraction
China (CN)
NO.221 Weiershi Road, Yueqing Economic Development Zone, Yueqing, Wenzhou, Yueqing, Wenzhou 325600, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
Excerpt from a 2001 Theben catalogue showing the applicant's SUL 180_a chronometer product
Theben catalogue
Applicant's SUL 180_a chronometer design
DM/053 153 · WIPO Hague Register · disclosed 2000-11-30
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over its earlier SUL 180_a design and supporting catalogue and Hague Register evidence.
- ›The holder filed no observations in reply.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of international design DM/053 153 before the RCD filing date under Article 7(1) CDR.
- ›Given broad design freedom, the minor side-detail difference did not alter the overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested RCD was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to pay EUR 750 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
- 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 ↗ |
Locarno classes
Similar decisions
Ranked by shared Locarno class + shared legal grounds + matching outcome. Click a case to view full detail.
| Case | Date | Outcome | Shared grounds | Locarno | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000130161 vs ALBOR BOGDAN NIEDBAŁA | 2026-01-07 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000130127 vs ALBOR BOGDAN NIEDBAŁA | 2026-01-07 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000127515 vs Changzhou Fengxue Network Technology Co., Ltd. | 2025-06-10 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000127458 | 2025-04-15 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123355 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123394 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123375 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123374 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |