DesignVerdictBeta
← Back to search
Contested design 015004754-0001

Invalidity · first instance · 2024-01-15

000121099

Contested design: 015004754-0001

CDR

Outcome

Application rejected (holder wins)

The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.

Show verbatim operative text

The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 015004754-0001 is rejected. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.

CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400

Parties

Applicant · invalidity challenger

TABB Interior Systems B.V.via PDF extraction

Netherlands (NL)

Zeusstraat 2, 5048 CA Tilburg, Netherlands

Represented by

AKD N.V.

Holder · RCD owner

VREE Group B.V.via PDF extraction

Netherlands (NL)

Gessel 62, 3454 MZ De Meern, Netherlands

Represented by

RISE

Prior art cited (5)

Prior useD1⚠ rejected as evidence

partly assembled prototype of a telephone booth

applicant's premises in Tilburg, Netherlands · disclosed 2019-12-12

Prior useD2

fully assembled telephone booth prototype displayed by the parties

applicant's showroom in Tilburg and holder's office in De Meern, Netherlands · disclosed 2020-06-16

Registered RCDD3

'Evävaara Design' for video-conferencing booths, miniature buildings [other than toys], booths, cubicles, telephone boxes

RCD No 002772418-0001 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2015-09-28

Web disclosureD4

'Otto Design' soundproof office pod

https://tup.works; www.DesignNest.com · DesignNest.com · disclosed 2020-10-27

Web disclosureD5⚠ rejected as evidence

technical instructions in drawings for the 'Otto Design'

www.DesignNest.com · DesignNest.com

Legal grounds invoked

Article 25(1)(b)Article 4(1)Article 5(1)(b)Article 5(2)Article 6(1)(b)Article 7(1)

Argument summary

  • The applicant argued that the contested telephone-booth design lacked novelty and individual character over its own earlier prototype disclosures, an earlier RCD, and the Otto office-pod disclosures online.
  • The holder disputed any qualifying public disclosure before filing, invoked confidentiality and limited public access, and argued that the cited booths created different overall impressions.
  • The Division accepted disclosure of D2, D3 and D4, but not D1 or D5, and found the cited designs materially different from the contested design in colour, outline, wall structure, borders and front wall.
  • The invalidity grounds under Article 25(1)(b) CDR failed, so the application was rejected and the applicant was ordered to pay EUR 400 in costs.

Deciding panel

  • MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
  • MemberElisabetta FERRARO
  • MemberEnrico D’ERRICO

Decision files

LanguageTypeSource link
deDeutsch (de)machine translatedDownload original from EUIPO ↗
esespañol (es)machine translatedDownload original from EUIPO ↗
frfrançais (fr)machine translatedDownload original from EUIPO ↗
ititaliano (it)machine translatedDownload original from EUIPO ↗
enEnglishoriginalDownload original from EUIPO ↗

Locarno classes

25.03

Similar decisions

Ranked by shared Locarno class + shared legal grounds + matching outcome. Click a case to view full detail.

CaseDateOutcomeShared groundsLocarnoScore
000128596

vs Griptel AB

2025-07-17Art 25(1)(b)257
000124436

vs Ziel Home Furnishing Technology Co., Ltd.

2024-11-19Art 25(1)(b)257
000121138

vs TABB Interior Systems B.V.

2024-01-15Art 25(1)(b)257
000121100

vs TABB Interior Systems B.V.

2024-01-15Art 25(1)(b)257
000120379

vs Ergosafe Aktiebolag

2023-10-26Art 25(1)(b)257
000120958

vs Yimei Zhu

2023-07-27Art 25(1)(b)257
000119859

vs BoZarc

2023-06-02Art 25(1)(b)257
000117077

vs Budotechnika Sp. o.o.

2022-12-13Art 25(1)(b)257