Invalidity · first instance · 2023-04-04
000117374
Contested design: 007905187-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld; Registered Community design No 007905187-0001 is declared invalid.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 007905187-0001 is declared invalid.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Joanna Rafalskavia PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
ul. Gen. Władysława Sikorskiego 26/64, 40282 Katowice, Poland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Biovico Sp. z o.o.
Poland (PL)
Hutnicza 15B, 81061 Gdynia, Poland
Represented by
Małgorzata Matyka
Prior art cited (1)
Bone pulp guide with loader set for dry arthroscopy / surgical instruments
AR 201.60 / AR 201.3; AR 261.60 / AR 261.3 · Applicant invoices and brochure 'bs SET FOR CARTLAGE DEFECT REPAIR'
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested surgical-instrument design lacked novelty and individual character because her earlier bone-pulp-guide set had already been marketed, sold and publicly shown before the filing date.
- ›The holder disputed disclosure and similarity, invoked the Article 7(2) grace period, challenged the applicant's evidence, and argued that technical constraints and sector standards limited the designer's freedom.
- ›The Division found disclosure established through the combined invoices and brochure, identified the informed user as someone familiar with surgical instruments, and treated the designer's freedom as average.
- ›Comparing the instruments directly, the Division found the shared features dominated and the slight differences in the rectangular part did not alter the same overall impression, so invalidity was upheld.
Deciding panel
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
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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