Invalidity · first instance · 2023-11-08
000119980
Contested design: 009045776-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must bear costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 009045776-0001 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
FLAMEshoes, s.r.o.
SK
Kružlov 292, 08604 Kružlov, Slovakia
Prior art cited (2)
ESTRO clog
Amazon ASIN B09XXB4L5Z · Amazon · disclosed 2022-04-14
clog design
fajnyeshop.sk archived webpage · fajnyeshop.sk · disclosed 2021-04-24
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character based on the earlier ESTRO clog disclosed on Amazon before the contested design's filing date.
- ›Holder argued the earlier design was its own identical product and that the Amazon disclosure fell within the Article 7(2) CDR grace period.
- ›The Division found the Amazon listing sufficiently proved prior disclosure, while the holder provided no evidence linking that disclosure to holder-supplied information; a later-added webpage disclosure was disregarded.
- ›Given the same overall impression on informed users of clogs and the designer's broad freedom, the contested design lacked individual character and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
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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