Invalidity · first instance · 2023-08-25
000118961
Contested design: 008616460-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 008616460-0001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Crocs, Inc.via PDF extraction
United States (US)
13601 Via Varra, Broomfield, Colorado 80020, United States
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Kondor Sp. z o.o.
Poland (PL)
ul. Sw. Teresy 91a, 91341 Lodz, Poland
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
slippers
Community design No 001044655-0001 · Office designs database · disclosed 2009-01-28
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character over earlier Community design No 001044655-0001 and filed registration details and comparison evidence.
- ›The holder argued the relevant sector was clog-style shoes with constrained design freedom and that differences in sole profile, strap decoration and colour changed the overall impression.
- ›The Division accepted publication of the earlier RCD as disclosure, treated the product as clogs, and found designer freedom high despite functional requirements.
- ›It found the identified differences minor and the shared overall appearance decisive, so it declared the contested design invalid and ordered the holder to pay EUR 750.
Deciding panel
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberWolfgang SCHRAMEK
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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