Invalidity · first instance · 2024-06-12
000122674
Contested design: 004156909-0004
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld, the contested Community design No 004156909-0004 is declared invalid, and 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. 004156909-0004 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)
clog design
Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster Nr. 1626300-0001 · Datenbank des Amtes · disclosed 2009-10-23
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character, relying principally on earlier disclosed Community design D1.
- ›The holder argued the contested design had individual character and cited a prior EUIPO invalidity decision plus retail advertising to suggest differences and market context.
- ›The Division found D1 had been validly disclosed, considered the designer's freedom for clogs broadly unrestricted, and rejected the holder's market-saturation argument for lack of proof.
- ›Comparing the overall impressions, the Division held the differences were minor and the contested design lacked individual character, so the application was upheld in full.
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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