Invalidity · first instance · 2022-03-04
000116730
Contested design: 002211086-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 002211086-0002 is rejected. The applicant bears the holder’s costs.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Beurer GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Söflinger Str. 218, 89077 Ulm, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Foreo Ltd.via PDF extraction
Hong Kong (HK)
Chai Wan Kok St. No 66-82, Unit H2, 18/F, Tsuen Wan 999077, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Prior art cited (2)
dental floss dispenser
US D493,257 S · USPTO patent database · disclosed 2004-07-20
skin cleanser
PCT/IB2014/000530 · WIPO patent database · disclosed 2014-07-10
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity under Articles 25(1)(a) and 25(1)(b), arguing the design was not a unitary product, lacked individual character over US D493,257 S, and was technically dictated.
- ›The holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Division found the seven views consistently depicted one cosmetic skin treatment apparatus and refused to reopen registration-stage formal representation issues in invalidity proceedings.
- ›It held the patent materials did not show all essential features were solely technically dictated and that the prior dental floss dispenser created a different overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was rejected in full, and the applicant was ordered to bear the holder's costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberCarmen SÁNCHEZ PALOMARES
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
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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