Invalidity · first instance · 2021-08-11
000113382
Contested design: 003322601-0008
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is rejected; the applicant must bear the holder's costs, fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusters Nr. 003322601-0008 wird zurückgewiesen. 2. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten der Inhaberin, die auf 400 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Gries Deco Company GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Boschstr. 7a, 63843 Niedernberg, Deutschland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Stern GmbH & Co. KG
Germany (DE)
Maybachstr. 13, 71563 Affalterbach, Deutschland
Represented by
Norbert Schoenen
Prior art cited (8)
Armsessel; Sessel; Kombinierte Möbel
GGM Nr. 002039826-0011 · Blatt für Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster / DPMA-Register · disclosed 2012-07-23
Ruhemöbel
Nr. 4485-0001 · DesignView / Amt für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz der Tschechischen Republik · disclosed 1969-09-15
La Palma product series "Add Bench System"
http://architonic.com/de/product/lapalma-add-bench-system/1256801 · Architonic
La Palma product series "Add Seating System Outdoor"
http://architonic.com/de/product/lapalma-add-seating-system-outdoor/20138522 · Architonic
Gloster Furniture GmbH product series "Bloc" / "Bloc Corner Unit"
https://www.architonic.com/de/product/gloster-furniture-gmbh-bloc-corner-unit · Architonic
CADA Design product series "Salina Lounge"
Amazon.de · disclosed 2012-04-24
jankurtz product "Lux Lounge"
jankurtz catalog "*designed in affalterbach" (Sommer 2015)
model "Fortuna" of the holder
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character over D1, D2, and several market disclosures, arguing designer freedom for garden lounges was constrained by function and dense prior art.
- ›Holder argued the contested three-part mirrored garden-furniture set had distinct proportions, leg structure, upholstery, and overall impression, and denied that modular combinations of earlier furniture reproduced it.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D1, D2, Add (5), Add (7), Bloc (4), Salina Lounge, and Lux Lounge, but rejected the unsupported Fortuna model and undated additional images.
- ›It found designer freedom was not restricted and that each earlier design produced a clearly different overall impression, with common seat-and-table features carrying limited weight as standard garden-furniture elements.
- ›The invalidity application was rejected and the applicant was ordered to pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.
Deciding panel
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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