Invalidity · first instance · 2022-05-31
000114483
Contested design: 007203252-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 007203252-0003 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Apple Inc.via PDF extraction
United States (US)
One Apple Park Way, Cupertino, California 95014, United States
Holder · RCD owner
Guangzhou Xuanxin Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
China (CN)
A101, 2F, No.38, Shengtang St. Industrial Zone, Cen Village, Tianhe Dist., Guangzhou City, People’s Republic of China
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
Apple Watch smartwatch
https://www.apple.com/de · apple.com/de via Internet Archive and TinEye · disclosed 2018-09-14
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on prior Apple Watch disclosures on apple.com before the filing date.
- ›Holder disputed disclosure in the EU, argued smartwatch design freedom was limited, and pointed to strap colour and attachment differences.
- ›The Division found the archived German Apple website and related screenshot proved disclosure under Article 7(1) CDR before filing.
- ›It held the designer had broad freedom and that the shared smartwatch shape and features outweighed minor strap differences.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested design lacked individual character and the holder was ordered to pay costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberMichelle Marie DELLACHERIE
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000130161 vs ALBOR BOGDAN NIEDBAŁA | 2026-01-07 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000130127 vs ALBOR BOGDAN NIEDBAŁA | 2026-01-07 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000127515 vs Changzhou Fengxue Network Technology Co., Ltd. | 2025-06-10 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000127458 | 2025-04-15 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123375 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123394 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123374 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |
| 000123355 vs Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | 2025-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 10 | 8 |