Invalidity · first instance · 2023-07-05
000120864
Contested design: 006309100-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, Registered Community design No 0063091000001 is declared invalid, and the holder must bear the costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 0063091000001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Societe Bic, société anonymevia PDF extraction
France (FR)
12-22, Boulevard Victor Hugo, 92110 Clichy, France
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Hunan Zhuoye Electronic Company Limited
China (CN)
Industrial Park, JianghuaYaozu Autonomous County, Yongzhou City, Hunan, China
Represented by
Prior art cited (3)
BIC lighter shown in a promotional brochure
BIC promotional brochure
BIC lighter shown in 40th anniversary catalogues
BIC anniversary catalogue
BIC lighter shown in five video snapshots
YouTube video "Tutorial: Magic trick with a lighter - Make the logo disappear - Magic explained" · YouTube · disclosed 2012-02-17
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested lighter design lacked novelty and individual character over its long-marketed BIC lighter disclosed through catalogues, a brochure, and a YouTube video before 14 March 2019.
- ›The holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Division accepted the annexes and YouTube material as prior disclosure and found that, despite minor differences, the two lighters created the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested design lacked individual character under Article 6(1)(b) CDR, and the holder was ordered to pay costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberIneta GALUBICKE
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
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
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