Invalidity · first instance · 2023-05-16
000120278
Contested design: 008129746-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 0081297460003 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Melissa & Doug, LLCvia PDF extraction
United States (US)
141 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897, United States
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Shantou Chenghai District Kurui Trading CO., LTD.via PDF extraction
China (CN)
No. 3, Alley 5, Gangkou Anding Road, Fengxiang Street, Chenghai District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province 515000, China
Represented by
Manuel de Arpe Tejero
Prior art cited (3)
Screenshot from the video 'Water Wow! Vehicles from Melissa & Doug' showing the prior 'WATER WOW!' water pen
https://www.youtube.com · YouTube · disclosed 2014-06-10
Screenshot from the video 'Water Wow! Vehicles from Melissa & Doug' showing the prior 'WATER WOW!' water pen
https://www.youtube.com · YouTube · disclosed 2018-07-03
Sample invoices for sales of yellow/blue 'WATER WOW!' pens and related products in the EU and the UK
EU and UK sales invoices
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on its earlier 'WATER WOW!' water pen disclosed online and sold in the EU before the filing date.
- ›The holder filed no observations and did not contest the alleged disclosures, evidence, or the applicant's comparison of the designs.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted the YouTube screenshots as prior disclosure under Article 7(1) and found the designer's freedom relatively broad for toy writing instruments.
- ›It held that the minor differences in text and surface pattern did not alter the overall impression, so the contested design lacked individual character and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
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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