Invalidity · first instance · 2021-07-16
000109364
Contested design: 002684043-0001
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 0026840430001 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
Anne Germannvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Kölner Landstr. 117, 40591 Düsseldorf, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
SunPower Corporationvia PDF extraction
United States (US)
77 Río Robles, San Jose, California 95134, United States of America
Represented by
Prior art cited (5)
international patent application on shingled solar-cell supercells
WO 2015/183827 A2
solar panel
RCD 002032581-0005 · EUIPO Office bulletin · disclosed 2012-05-07
solar panel
RCD 000034350-0001
solar panel
RCD 001386056-0001
solar panel with four ladder-like structures
RCD 001955030-002
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested solar-panel design lacked novelty and individual character over earlier RCDs and that its features were solely dictated by technical function.
- ›The holder replied that the reflective surface and other visual choices were aesthetic design features, the earlier designs created different impressions, and the applicant had not proved sole technical functionality.
- ›The Division rejected the Article 8(1) and novelty attacks, accepting disclosure of RCD 002032581-0005 but finding the reflective surface prevented identity under Article 5.
- ›Comparing overall impressions, the Division found the contested design did not differ from RCD 002032581-0005 in a way that mattered, so the invalidity application was upheld.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
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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