Invalidity · first instance · 2021-04-12
000106719
Contested design: 002711093-0004
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 0027110930004 is rejected. 2. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. IIvia PDF extraction
United States (US)
228 Manhattan Beach Blvd, 90266 Manhattan Beach, California, United States of America
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Autumnpaper Limited
United Kingdom (GB)
5th Floor Rear Suite, Oakfield House, 35 Perrymount Road, RH16 3BW Haywards Heath, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Represented by
Prior art cited (5)
Alexander McQueen oversized sneaker
www.ballinnn.com · ballinnn.com · disclosed 2011-04-09
United Nude shoes
fashionbeans.com · fashionbeans.com · disclosed 2014-06-09
Nike Roshe Run Flyknit shoe
complex.com; sneakernews.com · disclosed 2014-07-24
shoes
RCD 0022260270001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2014-05-02
shoes
RCD 0022260270007 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2014-05-02
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the contested shoe-sole design lacked individual character over D1 and designs D2 to D5 disclosed before the filing date.
- ›Holder contested D1's publication date and disclosure, argued the cited internet evidence was unreliable or obscure, and said the earlier soles created different overall impressions.
- ›The Division found the Ballinnn article unreliable and uncorroborated, so D1 was not proven disclosed, but accepted D2 to D5 as publicly available before filing.
- ›Comparing only the visible soles, significant differences in the toe step, welt, thickness, profile and heel outweighed similarities, so the RCD retained individual character and invalidity was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
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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