Invalidity · first instance · 2021-04-09
000110985
Contested design: 005504024-0001
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 0055040240001 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
Erwin Müller GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Breslauer Str. 34-38, 49808 Lingen (Ems), Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Shanghai ThinkWise Industrial Co., Ltd
China (CN)
Building 12, No.230 Chuanhong Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201322, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
articulated arms for screens
Community design registration No 0010330050001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2008-12-12
articulated arms for screens
Community design registration No 0010330050002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2008-12-12
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over earlier screen-arm designs D1 and D2, stressing their shared overall structure and appearance.
- ›The holder argued D2 had not destroyed novelty or individual character, citing differences in the mount, arm diameters, cable routing, and monitor adapter, and a narrower degree of design freedom.
- ›The Invalidity Division found D1 and D2 had been disclosed through publication in the Community Designs Bulletin and assessed individual character first against D2.
- ›It held that the differences were minor or technically driven, while the shared conical stand and articulated arm configuration created the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested RCD was declared invalid for lack of individual character, and the holder was ordered to pay EUR 750 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberCarmen SÁNCHEZ PALOMARES
- MemberJessica LEWIS
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
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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