Invalidity · first instance · 2023-06-19
000119118
Contested design: 004156909-0003
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity against Registered Community design No 004156909-0003 is rejected, and the applicant must bear the costs of the invalidity proceedings.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusters Nr. 004156909-0003 wird zurückgewiesen. 2. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten des Nichtigkeitsantrags.
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
Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 002038901-0002 · Blatt für Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster · disclosed 2012-05-18
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character, relying on earlier RCD D1 and comparison images to argue the contested clog created the same overall impression.
- ›The holder argued the contested design had individual character and produced a sufficiently different overall impression, while also alleging a crowded clog design field.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted D1 as properly disclosed, identified the relevant sector as clog footwear, and found the designer's freedom was not materially restricted.
- ›Despite some shared features, the Division held the upper edge, ventilation holes, and strap differences were more striking and gave the contested design a different overall impression, so the 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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