Invalidity · first instance · 2024-01-11
000119918
Contested design: 002876573-0001
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 0028765730001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Homy Casa Limitedvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
Second booth of No. 81, He’an Street, Xi’hua Road, Liwan District, GuangZhou, China
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Tian Jin U-Like Intl. Co., LTDvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
RM1601,602C, Xinjinlong Building, No. 21 Weijin South RD., Hexi District, Tianjin, China
Represented by
Daniel Kurdubski
Prior art cited (1)
chairs
Community design No 027455540002 · Office's designs database · disclosed 2015-08-03
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on its earlier RCD for chairs published before the contested design’s priority date.
- ›Holder argued common chair features and functional constraints limited design freedom, and claimed differences in leg angles, colours, under-seat connection and seat curvature changed the overall impression.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of the earlier RCD, found designer freedom for chairs broad, and treated most alleged differences as minor, perspective-driven, or not visible in normal use.
- ›It concluded the contested design lacked individual character under Article 6 CDR, upheld the invalidity application, and declared the design invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberIneta GALUBICKE
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
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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