Invalidity · first instance · 2021-07-16
000110623
Contested design: 005306388-0001
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(it)
1. La domanda di dichiarazione di nullità del disegno/modello comunitario registrato n. 005306388-0001 è respinta. 2. La richiedente sopporta l’onere delle spese sostenute dalla titolare, fissate a 400 EUR.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Lynx s.r.l.
Italy (IT)
Viale Verdi, 56, 34074 Monfalcone (GO), Italia
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Luminal Agency s.r.l.
Italy (IT)
Via Cappuccini 16, 20122 Milano, Italia
Represented by
Prior art cited (12)
3D watch mark
International trademark No 729271 · disclosed 2000-04-27
watches
DM/065 881-0002 · disclosed 2004-09-01
watch mark
International trademark No 594072 · disclosed 1992-10-16
"Laureato" watch
"La Clessidra", "Marche di Orologi in Italia", p. 9 · La Clessidra
"Royal Oak" watch
Audemars Piguet brochure · Audemars Piguet
"Royal Oak" watch
"La Macchina del tempo, L’Orologio", p. 162 · La Macchina del tempo, L’Orologio
"Royal Oak Calendario Perpetuo" watch
"La Macchina del Tempo, L’Orologio", p. 140 · La Macchina del Tempo, L’Orologio
watch image from Royal Oak article
"Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak" · iW International Watch
watch image from Royal Oak article
"Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak" · iW International Watch
watch image from Royal Oak article
"Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak" · iW International Watch
watch image from Royal Oak article
"Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak" · iW International Watch
"Chronographe Odysèe" watch
"Montres magazine" · Montres magazine
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on twelve earlier watch-related disclosures with octagonal bezels.
- ›The holder argued octagonal bezels are common in watch design and that the contested watch case has distinct protected features creating a different overall impression.
- ›The Division accepted D1 to D12 as prior disclosures and compared only the protected watch-case features, excluding unprotected details such as strap, dial interior, colors, and marks.
- ›The earlier designs did not create the same overall impression on the informed user, so the contested RCD retained individual character and the invalidity application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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