Invalidity · first instance · 2021-03-18
000107659
Contested design: 003320555-0001
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
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 0033205550001 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
Handelsmaatschappij J. Van Hilst B. V.via PDF extraction
Netherlands (NL)
Elzenweg 19, 5144 MB Waalwijk, Netherlands
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Puma SEvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
PUMA Way 1, 91074 Herzogenaurach, Germany
Prior art cited (1)
Rihanna preview of Puma 'Creeper' sneaker showing a flat, vertically-striped crepe sole
Footwear News article 'Has Rihanna just revealed her first Puma collaboration shoes?' · Footwear News · disclosed 2015-07-08
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the sole shown in the contested RCD had been publicly disclosed before the grace period through Rihanna-related online publications and public appearances.
- ›Holder said the application was inadmissible for bad faith and contractual reasons and denied the cited internet materials reliably disclosed the relevant shoe to EU specialist circles.
- ›The Division rejected the inadmissibility objections, admitted the supplementary evidence, and found Annex I was a reliable internet disclosure before 25/07/2015.
- ›Comparing only the protected sole features, the Division found the prior design identical to the contested RCD and declared the design invalid for lack of novelty.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberJessica LEWIS
- MemberCarmen SÁNCHEZ PALOMARES
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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