Invalidity · first instance · 2024-01-22
000120118
Contested design: 000257001-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld and the contested RCD is declared invalid.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. Registered Community design No 0002570010001 is declared invalid.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Gor Factory, S.A.via PDF extraction
Spain (ES)
Ctra. de Santomera- Albanilla Km. 8,800, Nave 2, 30620 Fortuna (Murcia) Spain
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Crocs, Inc.
United States (US)
13601 Via Varra, Broomfield, Colorado 80020, United States
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
red clog shown on the Holey Soles website
http://holeysoles.com · Internet Archive / holeysoles.com · disclosed 2003-04-13
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying in particular on archived Holey Soles webpages showing an earlier clog design.
- ›The holder argued the applicant had not clearly compared the designs and that the contested clog created a different overall impression, especially because it included a heel strap.
- ›The Division accepted the Internet Archive evidence as prior disclosure, found a high degree of design freedom for clogs, and held that the heel strap was the only notable difference.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested design lacked individual character over D1, and the holder was ordered to bear the costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
- 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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