Invalidity · first instance · 2024-05-16
000123377
Contested design: 015001545-0001
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld; Registered Community design No 015001545-0001 is declared invalid; the holder must bear the costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(it)
1. La domanda di dichiarazione di nullità è accolta. 2. Il disegno o modello comunitario registrato n. 015001545-0001 è dichiarato nullo. 3. Il titolare sopporta l’onere delle spese, fissate a 750 EUR.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Spray Moret, LLC
United States (US)
1411 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10018, Stati Uniti d’America
Holder · RCD owner
Daniel Terrell
United Kingdom (GB)
Flat 13 1, Wapping High Street E1w1bh, Londra, Regno Unito
Prior art cited (1)
figurative 'shark mouth' mark
EUTM No 18 342 626 · EUIPO · disclosed 2020-11-21
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity under Article 25(1)(e) CDR, arguing that the contested design used its earlier figurative EU trade mark representing a shark mouth.
- ›The holders disputed invalidity, pointed to pending Naples litigation, argued the signs were evidently different, and claimed the earlier mark was weak and long used on the market.
- ›The Division found the parallel litigation and attacks on the earlier mark irrelevant here, and treated the cited EUTM as valid, earlier, and capable of grounding the invalidity claim.
- ›It found the products identical, the signs at least moderately visually similar and conceptually identical, and therefore a likelihood of confusion under the applicable trade mark rules.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld, the contested RCD was declared invalid, and costs were fixed against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberJessica N. LEWIS
- MemberEnrico D'ERRICO
- MemberElisabetta FERRARO
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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