Invalidity · first instance · 2023-02-03
000116848
Contested design: 007004171-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 0070041710001 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
CM München GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Viktor-Frankl-Str. 11, 86899 Landsberg am Lech, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Airwair International Limited
United Kingdom (GB)
Cobb’s Lane, Wollaston, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN29 7SW, United Kingdom
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
Dr. Martens '2976 Quad' shoe design / sole
Warning letter dated 2021-08-30
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the contested shoe sole design lacked novelty and individual character over the earlier Dr. Martens 2976 Quad model allegedly developed in 2013.
- ›Holder replied that the contested sole was markedly thicker, the applicant wrongly relied on unclaimed colours and upper features, and the informed user would notice the sole thickness.
- ›The Division held the applicant had not proved public disclosure of the alleged earlier design because the warning letter did not show when or how it was made available to the public.
- ›Without proof of disclosure under Article 7, the Office did not assess novelty or individual character further and rejected the invalidity application.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000123916 vs Crocs, Inc. | 2024-11-18 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000123935 vs Crocs, Inc. | 2024-11-18 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000120862 vs Dongguan Zhicheng Lighting Co., Ltd. | 2024-11-06 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000122914 vs JSP Limited | 2024-04-25 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000122915 vs JSP Limited | 2024-04-25 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000121459 vs Birkenstock IP GmbH | 2024-04-09 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000121479 vs Birkenstock IP GmbH | 2024-04-08 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |
| 000121478 vs Birkenstock IP GmbH | 2024-04-04 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 7 |