Invalidity · first instance · 2022-08-23
000116993
Contested design: 008460380-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay fixed costs of EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 0084603800001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Skinners Technologies s.r.o.via PDF extraction
Czechia (CZ)
Cyrilská 508/7, 602 00 Brno, Czechia
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Quanzhou Tianqi Shoe Material Trade Co., Ltd.via PDF extraction
China (CN)
No 150, Jianxing Road, Andou Village, Chendai Town, Jinjiang City, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China
Prior art cited (1)
Whitin Minimalist barefoot sock shoes for women and men
ASIN B08 SJ3 CCN6 · Amazon.com · disclosed 2021-01-08
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on earlier Amazon-disclosed barefoot sock shoes available before 12 March 2021.
- ›Holder argued differences in opening, height, upper pattern, sole bottom, and WHITIN branding created a different overall impression for informed users.
- ›The Division accepted the Amazon offer as prior disclosure and found the shared dual structure, sole contour, and sock-like upper dominated the overall impression.
- ›Differences in rim height, colour shades, sole underside details, and branding were insufficient, so the contested design lacked individual character under Article 6(1)(b).
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid, and costs were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
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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