Invalidity · first instance · 2021-10-12
000114005
Contested design: 000366968-0001
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 designNo 0003669680001 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
Idento Group A/Svia PDF extraction
Denmark (DK)
Kløvermarken 19E, 7190 Billund, Denmark
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
The Gillette Company Llcvia PDF extraction
United States (US)
One Gillette Park, Boston, Massachusetts 02127, United States of America
Represented by
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the toothbrush-head design was entirely dictated by technical function, especially the bristles, head shape, shaft, shaft base and bottom connection.
- ›The holder replied that several visible features reflected aesthetic choices, relied on an expert report, and argued the applicant had not proved exclusive technical determination.
- ›The Invalidity Division found that the bristles, overall shape, shaft and shaft base were not shown to be solely technically dictated, even if they served functional purposes.
- ›Only the bottom perimeter and internal connection parts were considered purely functional; because not all appearance features were exclusively functional, the invalidity application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- 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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