Invalidity · first instance · 2020-05-22
000104920
Contested design: 001033450-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; Registered Community design No 0010334500002 is declared invalid, and the holder must bear 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 0010334500002 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
ACCUMA S.P.A.
Italy (IT)
Via Eustachi, 46, 20129 Milano, Italy
Represented by
Giulio Enrico Sironi
Holder · RCD owner
ACCUMALUX
LU
Allée de la Poudrerie, 1899 Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg
Represented by
Prior art cited (12)
battery installation and operation manual showing battery lid views
AlphaCell OPzS Battery Installation and Operation Manual · AlphaCell manual · disclosed 2005-11-01
battery handbook
Hawker Batteries Handbook · Hawker · disclosed 1999-07-01
webpage screenshot showing battery lid
www.shopenergia.com · shopenergia.com
webpage screenshot showing battery lid
www.fmpancrazibatterie.it · fmpancrazibatterie.it
publication on battery containers and lids
Innovative containers and lids for OPzS-OpzV batteries · publication
storage battery cell cover patent
US1508926A · United States patent · disclosed 1924-09-16
handbook showing stationary battery lids with central and lateral holes
Battery Technology Handbook · Marcel Dekker Inc. · disclosed 2003-01-01
engineering manual
SMG (OpzV) – Valve regulated Recombination Cells – Engineering manual · engineering manual · disclosed 2005-08-01
battery handbook
Handbook for Gel-VRLA-Batteries · EXIDE Technologies · disclosed 2003-12-01
technical manual showing battery lid view
OPzV Technical Manual · Hawker
1998 catalogue showing battery-related designs
PLASTAM · PLASTAM catalogue · disclosed 1998-01-01
1999 catalogue showing various products
Accuma · Accuma catalogue · disclosed 1999-01-01
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity because the battery lid’s visible features were solely technically dictated and, in the alternative, lacked novelty and individual character and failed Article 4(2).
- ›The holder argued the lid’s underside remained visible in use, the features had design alternatives, and visual considerations shaped aspects such as hole arrangement, thinness and overall unity.
- ›The Invalidity Division found each identified feature served only technical functions, the applicant’s evidence convincingly explained those functions, and the holder failed to prove objectively supported aesthetic considerations.
- ›The application was upheld on Article 8(1) CDR, so the contested RCD was declared invalid without examining the remaining invalidity grounds.
Deciding panel
- MemberStephan HANNE
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
- 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 ↗ |
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