Invalidity · first instance · 2024-06-12
000122654
Contested design: 004156909-0003
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld; Registered Community design No 004156909-0003 is declared invalid; the holder must bear costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. 2. Das eingetragene Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 004156909-0003 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Crocs, Inc.via PDF extraction
United States (US)
13601 Via Varra, Broomfield Colorado 80020 Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
HSM Schuhmarketing GmbH
Germany (DE)
Werksstr. 15, 45527 Hattingen, Deutschland
Represented by
Marc Barth
Prior art cited (1)
clogs
RCD No 1626300-0001 · EUIPO design database · disclosed 2009-10-23
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character over earlier RCD D1 and relied on D1's prior publication before the contested filing date.
- ›The holder argued the contested clog design had individual character, invoked an earlier EUIPO invalidity decision on the same contested design, and alleged the cited prior designs did not preclude registration.
- ›The Division found D1 validly disclosed, treated the informed user as a purchaser of clogs, considered designer freedom broadly unrestricted, and rejected the claimed market saturation evidence as insufficient.
- ›Despite minor differences in holes, edges, strap, and sole details, the contested design created no different overall impression from D1, so the design lacked individual character and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberIvanka IVANOVA
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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