Invalidity · first instance · 2021-12-20
000113681
Contested design: 008088827-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, Community design No 008088827-0002 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. 008088827-0002 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
Reiner Förstervia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Sichelstraße 62, 44229 Dortmund, Deutschland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
BioHeatPlus GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Rheinpromenade 8, 40789 Mohnheim, Deutschland
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
heating apparatus
Artikel "BioheatPlus GmbH erfindet Weltneuheit für CO2-freies Heizen", Südwestfälische Wirtschaft, Seite 57 · Südwestfälische Wirtschaft / Südwestfälische Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Hagen
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued the contested heater design lacked novelty and individual character over an earlier heater disclosed publicly before the filing date, including in a May 2018 trade magazine article.
- ›The holder challenged admissibility, sought an oral hearing and suspension, disputed public disclosure, invoked the Article 7(2) grace period, and argued the contested design created a different visual impression.
- ›The Division rejected the admissibility, hearing, and suspension objections, accepted the May 2018 magazine evidence as a qualifying prior disclosure, and found Article 7(2) inapplicable because the disclosure was more than twelve months before filing.
- ›Comparing the earlier heater with the contested design, the Division found only minor colour and surface differences and concluded the contested design produced no different overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld in full, the contested design was declared invalid for lack of individual character, and costs were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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