Invalidity · first instance · 2020-12-09
000108901
Contested design: 001333223-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the applicant’s costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 0013332230001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the applicant’s costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Aroma Essence Ltdvia PDF extraction
Bulgaria (BG)
‘Vasil Levski’ bl.8, 6100 Kazanlak, Bulgaria
Represented by
Deyan Vulchev Ivanov
Holder · RCD owner
Refan Bulgaria EOODvia PDF extraction
Bulgaria (BG)
Karlovsko shose, 52, Trud, Bulgaria
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
Refan leaflet showing a white and red sponge with red soap
Refan parfumerie & cosmétique leaflet, dated spring 2010
Snapshots from the video clip 'Noticias Mediodia Antena 3 05-01-2010' showing a sponge with soap
https://www.youtube.com · YouTube / Antena 3 · disclosed 2010-01-12
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on the holder’s own sponge-with-soap designs disclosed before filing and outside the Article 7(2) grace period.
- ›The holder disputed whether the leaflet and video had been validly disclosed to the public and argued the contested design’s cube-like form and bevelled lower edges created a distinct overall impression.
- ›The Division accepted both the spring 2010 leaflet and the January 2010 YouTube video clip as prior disclosures under Article 7 and treated them as disclosing the same earlier design.
- ›Given substantial designer freedom, the Division found the shared layered sponge-and-soap appearance dominated and the bevelled edges did not change the overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld in full and the RCD was declared invalid, so the novelty ground did not need separate examination.
Deciding panel
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
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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