Invalidity · first instance · 2020-12-16
000108222
Contested design: 000992078-0002
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld, the contested Community design is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. 2. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 000992078-0002 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten der Antragstellerin, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Green Label Manufacturing Europe Limitedvia PDF extraction
Hong Kong (HK)
Flat/RM 1406 14F Loon Key Building, 267-275 Des Voeux Road, Central Hongkong, Sonderverwaltungszone Hongkong der Volksrepublik China
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Miele & Cie. KG
Germany (DE)
Schutzrechte/Verträge, Carl-Miele-Str. 29, 33332 Gütersloh, Deutschland
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the vacuum cleaner bag design must be invalid because it is a component of a complex product and is not visible during normal use of the vacuum cleaner.
- ›Holder argued vacuum bags are consumables rather than components under Article 4, and replacing them forms part of normal use, so the application should be rejected.
- ›The Division found a bagged vacuum cleaner is a complex product, the bag is a replaceable component, and opening the cleaner to replace it is maintenance rather than normal use.
- ›Because the bag is not visible during the vacuum cleaner's normal use, the contested design did not satisfy Article 4(2)(a) and was declared invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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