Invalidity · first instance · 2021-03-25
000113663
Contested design: 006763140-0001
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
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 0067631400001 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
Česká zbrojovka a.s.via PDF extraction
Czechia (CZ)
Svatopluka Cecha 1283, 688 27 Uherský Brod, Czech Republic
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Czech Small Arms
Czechia (CZ)
Jablunka 651, 756 23 Jabkunka, Czech Republic
Prior art cited (2)
Czech gun 'Škorpion vz. 61 E' with shorter magazine
Exhibits 9-10 · Law Enforcement Weapon Systems 2008/2009; Armed Forces & Law Enforcement Weapon Systems 2012/13
Czech gun 'Škorpion vz. 61 E' with longer magazine
Exhibits 9-10 · Law Enforcement Weapon Systems 2008/2009; Armed Forces & Law Enforcement Weapon Systems 2012/13
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested gun design lacked novelty and individual character because it reproduced the earlier Czech gun vz. 61 Skorpion and later models.
- ›The applicant relied on pre-2019 books and catalogues, including D1 and D2 from its weapon-system catalogues; the holder filed no observations after its extension request was refused as late.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D1 and D2 under Article 7(1) CDR and assessed individual character only against those earlier designs for procedural economy.
- ›It found the differences, mainly magazine length and screw colour, too minor to alter the overall impression on the informed user given at least average designer freedom.
- ›The application was upheld in full, the contested RCD was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to bear EUR 750 in fixed costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
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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