Invalidity · first instance · 2020-05-25
000104926
Contested design: 001033450-0007
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 0010334500007 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.via PDF extraction
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
handbook showing battery lid designs
Hawker Batteries Handbook · Hawker
webpage showing battery lid product views
www.shopenergia.com · shopenergia.com
webpage showing battery lid product views
www.fmpancrazibatterie.it · fmpancrazibatterie.it
publication explaining battery lid structure and function
Innovative containers and lids for OPzS-OpzV batteries · Accumalux Group
storage battery cell cover patent
US1508926A · United States patent · disclosed 1924-09-16
handbook describing battery lid holes and poles
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
1998 catalogue showing battery lid designs
PLASTAM · PLASTAM
1999 catalogue showing battery products including lids
Accuma · Accuma
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the battery lid’s lower face was not visible in normal use, its features were purely functional, and earlier manuals, catalogues, websites, and a patent defeated protection.
- ›Holder maintained the lid remained visible to professional users, denied sole technical functionality, pointed to alternative designs, and argued the arrangement of holes and reinforcements reflected visual choices.
- ›The Division found the perimeter gap, indented walls with teeth, triangular reinforcements, and three holes all served technical functions and the holder offered no reliable evidence of independent aesthetic considerations.
- ›The invalidity application succeeded under Article 25(1)(b) in conjunction with Article 8(1) CDR, so the Division did not examine the remaining 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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