Invalidity · first instance · 2022-01-31
000115082
Contested design: 007657556-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 007657556-0002 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
FHS International GmbH & Co. KGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
An der Eickesmühle 34, 41238 Mönchengladbach, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Western Region Enterprises Xiamen Limitedvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
Room 602, No. 64 Yundang Road, Siming Dist., Xiamen, Fujian, People’s Republic of China
Prior art cited (7)
Collapsible outdoor lighted Christmas tree ensemble
United States patent No 6,062,701 · United States patent · disclosed 2000-05-16
Assembly of a mast and dressing device and a dressing device for such an assembly and a method for dressing a mast
European patent application No 1 710 772 A1 · European patent application · disclosed 2006-10-11
Illumination Assembly for Providing a Christmas Tree Impression
PCT publication No WO 2014/189365 A1 · PCT publication · disclosed 2014-11-27
Pre-lit Metal Frame Christmas Tree
United States patent No 10,092,124 B1 · United States patent · disclosed 2018-10-09
Fairybell Wall 400CM-240LED WarmWeiss
ASIN B07FZZZDLC · amazon.de · disclosed 2018-07-29
Fairybell 3D outdoor tree / 3D Illuminated Static Light Christmas Trees
https://www.worm.co.uk/ · worm.co.uk
design publicly displayed at Messe Christmas World 2020 in Frankfurt am Main
Messe Christmas World 2020, Frankfurt am Main, Germany · disclosed 2020-01-25
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the design was invalid because the views were contradictory under Article 3(a) and because earlier designs D1 to D7 destroyed novelty and individual character.
- ›Holder replied that the views consistently showed one half-hexagonal pyramid design, the Chinese priority belonged to the same entity, and the cited prior designs differed materially.
- ›The Division found the representation sufficiently clear and unitary, accepted disclosure only for D1 to D4, and treated D5 to D7 as insufficiently proven or inadequate for comparison.
- ›Comparing the contested design with D1 to D4, the Division found clear differences in structure, apex, members, and lighting arrangement, so the design remained new and had individual character; the application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVA
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deDeutsch (de) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| 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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