Invalidity · first instance · 2023-05-15
000117392
Contested design: 002014068-0002
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 002014068-0002 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
Meril Diagnostics Private Limitedvia PDF extraction
IN
Survey No. 135/139, Bilakhia House, Muktanand Marg, Chala, Vapi, Gujarat 396191, India
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Cilag GmbH Internationalvia PDF extraction
Switzerland (CH)
Gubelstrasse 34, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
EES 'Curved Intraluminal Stapler' design allegedly disclosed through a 2010 catalogue, 2010 brochure, May 2010 press release and later affidavit
Ethicon Endo-Surgery materials / ASCRS press release · disclosed 2010-05-19
Various curved stapler designs shown on the Surgical Stapler Museum website
http://www.surgicalstaplermuseum.com · surgicalstaplermuseum.com
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on the design of EES's curved intraluminal stapler allegedly disclosed before priority through a catalogue, brochure, press release, affidavit and a stapler website.
- ›The holder replied that the prior designs were not precisely identified, the documents did not prove disclosure before the grace period, and the affidavit was unsupported and unreliable.
- ›The Division held that the website evidence was untranslated and not individualized, while the catalogue, brochure and press release did not prove with sufficient certainty which stapler design was disclosed before 23/09/2010.
- ›Because no earlier design was soundly proven to have been disclosed before the grace period, the invalidity grounds under Articles 5 and 6 failed and the application was rejected with costs against the applicant.
Deciding panel
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- MemberCarlos MATEO PÉREZ
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000118097 vs CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL | 2023-05-15 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000118077 vs CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL | 2023-03-22 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000117453 vs SHANGHAI TENGXIANG TRAVEL PRODUCTS CO.,LTD | 2023-03-20 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000117372 vs Biovico Sp. z o.o. | 2023-02-23 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000115342 vs Elsa Vermögens- und Beteiligungs AG | 2022-06-15 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000108861 vs Sofiane Lozano IBANEZ | 2021-07-22 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000107461 vs CHANGCHUN XIA | 2020-05-08 | — | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |
| 000105480 vs FBGC Limited | 2019-08-13 | Invalidity application rejected | Art 25(1)(b) | 24 | 7 |