Invalidity · first instance · 2021-11-15
000114923
Contested design: 008189229-0005
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested Community design is declared invalid, and the holder must bear costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. 2. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 0081892290005 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Ningbo Let it Be Arts and Craft Co., Ltdvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
Donya Village Qiuai Town Yinzhou District, Ningo, Volksrepublik China
Represented by
Alberto Maria Giordano
Holder · RCD owner
WARIMEX Waren-Import Export Handels-GmbH
Germany (DE)
Chiara-Ambra-Platz 1, 77743 Neuried, Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
hairbrush
Chinese design registration No. 305890757 (application No. 202030095767.3) · Chinese design register / DesignView · disclosed 2020-06-30
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over earlier Chinese design D1, published before the contested RCD filing date.
- ›The holder argued the prior disclosure should be disregarded under Article 7(2) and (3) because of confidentiality and bad faith, and in any event the designs created a different overall impression.
- ›The Division found the holder had not proven confidentiality, abusive conduct, or other grounds to exclude D1 from consideration, so the earlier Chinese design counted as a prior disclosure.
- ›Comparing the two hairbrush designs, the Division held their shared figure-eight form, spiral frames, bristles, and central Z-shaped element dominated the overall impression, so the contested design lacked individual character.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld in full, the RCD was declared invalid, and costs were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
Similar decisions
Ranked by shared Locarno class + shared legal grounds + matching outcome. Click a case to view full detail.
| Case | Date | Outcome | Shared grounds | Locarno | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000131844 vs Nanchang Wangxing Technology Co., Ltd. | 2026-04-29 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000130166 vs Nanchang Wangxing Technology Co., Ltd. | 2026-04-21 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000131548 vs Wenwei Ding | 2026-04-21 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000131585 vs NOVOWISE LTD | 2026-03-27 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000130088 vs Mindful eCom OÜ | 2025-12-15 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000129185 vs Wenzhou Lingzhan Technology Co., Ltd. | 2025-09-18 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000128895 | 2025-07-22 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |
| 000127815 vs Daniel-Vasile Ilie | 2025-05-16 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 04 | 8 |