Invalidity · first instance · 2023-04-25
000117596
Contested design: 008658694-0007
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay EUR 350 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 008658694-0007 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 350.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €350
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Zbigniew Szołtysvia PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
Wybickiego 35F, 40-756 Katowice Poland
Holder · RCD owner
Krzysztof Kułakowskivia PDF extraction
Poland (PL)
Gutki 4, 37-450 Nisko Poland
Prior art cited (3)
identical composite furniture offered for purchase online
Amazon.de · Amazon.de · disclosed 2017-04-14
identical composite furniture shown at a fair
G2A Arena, Jasionka near Rzeszów, Poland · G2A Arena fair · disclosed 2019-04-06
wooden barrel rack/cupboard with rectangular front opening and single shelf
Community design No 008589261-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin / DesignView · disclosed 2021-07-06
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicants sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on Amazon and fair disclosures and earlier RCD No 008589261-0001.
- ›Holder argued the design was new and individually distinctive, the earlier RCD had been surrendered, and any similarities were insufficient to make the designs identical.
- ›The Division found publication of RCD No 008589261-0001 before 21/08/2021 proved disclosure under Article 7 CDR, regardless of its later surrender.
- ›Comparing the designs directly, the Division held they differed only in immaterial wood colour variation, so the contested design lacked novelty and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberIneta GALUBICKE
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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