Invalidity · first instance · 2023-06-13
000119101
Contested design: 004156909-0002
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity of Registered Community design No 004156909-0002 is rejected.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusters Nr. 004156909-0002 wird zurückgewiesen.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Crocs, Inc.via PDF extraction
United States (US)
13601 Via Varra, Broomfield Colorado 80020, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
HSM Schuhmarketing GmbH
Germany (DE)
Werksstr. 15, 45527 Hattingen, Deutschland
Represented by
Marc Barth
Prior art cited (1)
shoes
RCD No 002396457-0032 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2014-02-04
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character based on earlier RCD D1 and comparison images said to show the same overall impression.
- ›The holder argued the contested design had sufficient individual character, pointed to multiple design differences, and claimed market saturation for plastic clog shoes.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of D1, identified the informed user as a user of clog shoes, and found the designer's freedom not materially restricted beyond basic footwear requirements.
- ›Despite some shared features, the differences in upper, hole arrangement, side profile, and strap details created a sufficiently different overall impression, so the invalidity application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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