Invalidity · first instance · 2023-11-13
000120480
Contested design: 001486781-0001
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 001486781-0001 is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(it)
1. La domanda di dichiarazione di nullità del disegno o modello comunitario registrato n. 001486781-0001 è respinta. 2. La richiedente sopporta l’onere delle spese del titolare, fissate a 400 EUR.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Palini Vernici s.r.l.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Via San Gerolamo, 14, 25055 Pisogne (BS) Italia
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Ver Plast s.r.l.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Via Palera, 50, 10040 Leini (Torino) Italia
Represented by
Prior art cited (6)
orders and invoices for colour sample plates of various sizes
FIAT 500 colours for model years 2019-2021
https://www.vernicispray.com/cerca_colore.jsp · vernicispray.com
RAL colour scale page
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAL_(scala_di_colori) · Wikipedia · disclosed 2022-09-28
report on automotive colour popularity in 2021
Global Automotive 2021 Color Popularity Report
sheet showing selected Pantone colours
three printed or photo-engraved plastic plates labelled i1, i2 and i3
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested RCD was merely a coloured sample plate, not a protectable product, and in any event lacked individual character.
- ›It relied on invoices, website extracts, Wikipedia material, a colour-popularity report, Pantone sheets and images of plates to show prior disclosures.
- ›The holder replied that the protected product was automotive paint for plastic car components and that the informed user would perceive a different overall impression.
- ›The Division held that the published representation ultimately defined the design and showed a coloured rectangular plate that qualified as a product under Article 3.
- ›Because none of the cited exhibits proved prior disclosure under Article 7, the invalidity application was rejected and the applicant was ordered to pay EUR 400 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- MemberMichele M. BENEDETTI - ALOISI
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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