Invalidity · first instance · 2022-02-16
000116047
Contested design: 005945748-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must bear EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 005945748-0001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.via PDF extraction
Japan (JP)
1-7-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Junzhi Wang
China (CN)
No.3039, Bao'an Bei Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
controller
RCD No 002232132-0003 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2013-05-16
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested joystick design lacked novelty and individual character over earlier RCD No 002232132-0003 and that the visual differences were immaterial.
- ›The holder did not file observations despite having obtained an extension of time.
- ›The Division found average design freedom, treated common buttons and screws as banal, and held that the similar overall shape, central frame, and placement of controls outweighed the pointed sticks and extra division lines in the contested design.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to pay EUR 750 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENE
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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