Invalidity · first instance · 2020-05-22
000104921
Contested design: 001033450-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; the contested RCD is declared invalid and the holder must pay EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 0010334500003 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)
manual showing stationary battery lids
AlphaCell OPzS Battery Installation and Operation Manual · AlphaCell
battery handbook showing battery lid structures
Hawker Batteries Handbook · Hawker
webpage showing a battery lid
www.shopenergia.com · shopenergia.com
webpage showing a battery lid
www.fmpancrazibatterie.it · fmpancrazibatterie.it
publication explaining stationary battery lid construction
Innovative containers and lids for OPzS-OpzV batteries · Accumalux Group publication
storage battery cell cover
US1508926A · United States patent · disclosed 1924-09-16
handbook figure showing stationary battery lids with central and lateral holes
Battery Technology Handbook · Marcel Dekker Inc.
engineering manual showing similar battery lid designs
SMG (OpzV) - Valve regulated Recombination Cells - Engineering manual · SMG
handbook showing similar battery lid designs
Handbook for Gel-VRLA-Batteries · EXIDE Technologies · disclosed 2003-12-01
technical manual showing battery lid views
OPzV Technical Manual · Hawker
catalog showing battery lid designs
PLASTAM · PLASTAM
catalog showing battery products including lids
Accuma · Accuma
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity because the battery lid's visible features were solely functional and the design also lacked novelty and individual character over earlier battery-lid disclosures.
- ›Holder argued the lower face remained visible in use, alternative designs existed, and aesthetic choices such as hole arrangement and a lighter, thinner appearance contributed to the design.
- ›The Division found each identified feature of the lid served only technical purposes and the holder did not prove any objectively supported visual considerations influenced those choices.
- ›The application was upheld under Article 8(1) CDR, so the Division did not examine 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 ↗ |
Locarno classes
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