Invalidity · first instance · 2024-02-26
000120875
Contested design: 002083709-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered Community design No 0020837090001 is rejected. 2. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
gabo Systemtechnik GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Am Schaidweg 7, 94559 Niederwinkling, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
Filoform B.V.
Netherlands (NL)
De Kraaldert 2, 4191 PH Geldermalsen, Netherlands
Represented by
Prior art cited (4)
Catalogue 'ISP seals for fibre optic networks' showing identical miniduct seals on page 3.
holder catalogue
Holder product sheet and video for the tube sealing product, relied on for technical-function arguments.
holder advertising materials
Competitors' advertising materials praising technical characteristics of comparable cable seals.
competitor advertising materials
Patent application 'Protective Plastic Pipe and Fitting System and Method' in the holder's name.
WO 2020/204699 A1 · patent application
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the design was not a single design, lacked novelty over the holder's earlier catalogue disclosure, and was solely dictated by technical function.
- ›Holder said the registration validly showed a set of articles, the alleged prior disclosure was unproven, and the design retained non-technical appearance choices despite any technical utility.
- ›The Division accepted that Article 25(1)(a) had been raised, but found the assembled-product view sufficient to qualify as a design under Article 3(a).
- ›The catalogue evidence did not prove any pre-filing public disclosure, and the applicant failed to show all essential features were solely technically dictated, especially the cylindrical transparent sleeve.
- ›The invalidity application was rejected in full and the applicant was ordered to bear the holder's representation costs fixed at EUR 400.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila CELISOVA
- 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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