Invalidity · first instance · 2021-05-28
000110382
Contested design: 005321494-0015
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld; Registered Community design No. 005321494-0015 is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the applicant's costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. 2. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 005321494-0015 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten der Antragstellerin, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Papierfabriek Doetinchem B.V.via PDF extraction
Netherlands (NL)
Terborgseweg 52, 7005 BB Doetinchem, Niederlande
Holder · RCD owner
Sprick GmbH Bielefelder Papier- und Wellpappenwerke & Co.
Germany (DE)
Hanfstr. 23,33607 Bielefeld, Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (4)
pack machines, paper rolls
RCD No 001457279-0001 · EUIPO eSearch / Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2017-03-21
pack machines (part of)
RCD No 003507086-0001 · EUIPO eSearch / Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2017-03-21
pack machines (part of)
RCD No 003507086-0002 · EUIPO eSearch / Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2017-03-21
pack machines
RCD No 003507086-0003 · EUIPO eSearch / Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2017-03-21
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on earlier RCDs for packaging-machine dispenser heads and arguing the contested design copied their distinctive funnel element.
- ›The holder argued the compared designs differed across all views, especially because of the semicircular attachments, blue colour, and the allegedly narrow scope left by technical constraints and prior art density.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of the earlier RCDs and assessed individual character primarily against RCD No. 003507086-0002, finding broad design freedom despite some functional constraints for dispenser heads.
- ›It held that the common truncated-pyramid form, proportions, square opening, and raised edge dominated the overall impression, while colour and minor added attachments did not; the contested RCD was therefore declared invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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