Invalidity · first instance · 2022-04-04
000115827
Contested design: 005586005-0002
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 005586005-0002 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
Larix Mobila SRLvia PDF extraction
Romania (RO)
Str. Iernuteni, Nr. 56, Mures, Reghin, Romania
Represented by
Elena Grecu
Holder · RCD owner
Fabryka Mebli BENIX Kaczorowscy spółka jawna
Poland (PL)
Mroczeń 29a, 63-604 Baranów, Poland
Represented by
Prior art cited (5)
seating furniture and couches
RCD No 002683946-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2015-04-30
couches, upholstered and seating furniture, and sofas
RCD No 004008944-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2017-05-31
sofas
RCD No 002722124-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2015-07-16
couches
RCD No 004036994-0006 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2017-07-06
3 seater sofa bed Barcelona Light Gray / COSMOPOLITAN
https://www.vivre.ro ; product code 980907 · VIVRE marketplace website and corroborating invoices · disclosed 2018-04-17
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on five earlier sofa designs, including four RCDs and a VIVRE website disclosure supported by invoices and an affidavit.
- ›Holder denied identity and lack of individual character, argued the cited designs reflected market trends, and said D5 should be disregarded because its Candy sofa had been disclosed earlier and protected as an unregistered design.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D1 to D5, but found material visual differences for novelty and a different overall impression for individual character despite the informed user’s high attention and at least average design freedom.
- ›The invalidity grounds under Article 25(1)(b) failed, so the application was rejected and costs were awarded against the applicant.
Deciding panel
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
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 ↗ |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000127357 vs ED-Lifestyle Polstermöbel GmbH & Co. KG | 2025-02-13 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000127356 vs ED-Lifestyle Polstermöbel GmbH & Co. KG | 2025-02-12 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000127340 vs ED-Lifestyle Polstermöbel GmbH & Co. KG | 2025-02-06 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000121199 vs MANUTTI BVBA | 2024-05-16 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000120918 vs Sergiy Fatkulayev | 2024-03-27 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000120868 vs Sergiy Fatkulayev | 2024-03-27 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000120869 vs Sergiy Fatkulayev | 2024-03-27 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |
| 000120919 vs Sergiy Fatkulayev | 2024-03-27 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 7 |