Invalidity · first instance · 2022-11-22
000116707
Contested design: 003789668-0003
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 003789668-0003 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
Beurer GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Söflinger Str. 218, 89077, Ulm, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
FOREO AB
Sweden (SE)
Karlavägen 41, 11434, Stockholm, Sweden
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
Massage devices, Facial cleaners, Cosmetic skin treatment apparatus, Cosmetic devices, Vibromassage devices
Community design registration No 002816702-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2015-10-21
international patent application for a skin cleanser
PCT/IB2014/000530 · disclosed 2014-07-10
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant challenged the facial cleansing device for lack of novelty and individual character over earlier Community design No 002816702-0001 and said patent application PCT/IB2014/000530 showed its features were solely functional.
- ›Holder answered that it owned the earlier design, the designs differed in shape and layout, designer freedom was limited, Article 8 was not properly raised, and the contested design remained new and distinctive.
- ›The Division held the patent material did not prove the contested appearance was solely function-driven because alternative embodiments were possible and non-technical visual choices could not be excluded.
- ›It accepted disclosure of the earlier RCD but found visible differences in thickness, overall shape, rear waves, and base structure created a different overall impression, so the invalidity application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
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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