Invalidity · first instance · 2021-02-03
000110461
Contested design: 001180244-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay the applicant’s fixed costs of EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 001180244-0003 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
Globus Fachmärkte GmbH & Co. KGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Zechenstraße 8, 66333 Völklingen, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
Metalkas Sp. z o.o.via PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
ul. Deszczowa nr 63, 85-467 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Prior art cited (1)
modular shelf rack system
CZ 16654 U1 · Czech Patent Office · disclosed 2006-08-16
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over six earlier designs, particularly Czech utility model CZ 16654 U1 published in 2006.
- ›The holder argued differences in ribbing, anchor-hole positions, imprint count, shelf corners, and fittings created a different overall impression, then filed no further reply observations.
- ›The Division held the Czech Patent Office publication disclosed a prior design under Article 7 and that designer freedom for modular shelves was broad apart from basic structural constraints.
- ›The shared structure, proportions, board arrangement, and fixing method dominated minor differences, so the contested design lacked individual character and was declared invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberJessica LEWIS
- MemberMichelle Marie DELLACHERIE
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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