Invalidity · first instance · 2024-06-21
000122714
Contested design: 008412571-0001
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmusters Nr. 008412571-0001 wird zurückgewiesen. 2. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten der Inhaberin, die auf 400 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Stemoo Electric Company Limitedvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
Huazhuang Road, Suzhou, China
Represented by
Andrea Albert Catala
Holder · RCD owner
Leifheit AGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Leifheitstr., 56377 Nassau, Deutschland
Prior art cited (2)
Neatec M21 Lightweight Steam Mop Upright Steam Cleaner (Champagne)
ASIN B01M6EAMTN · Amazon.de · disclosed 2016-11-07
Neatec M21 Lightweight Steam Mop Upright Steam Cleaner (Blue)
ASIN B01M5LJX0V · Amazon.de · disclosed 2016-11-07
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicants argued that the contested steam mop lacked individual character over two Neatec M21 steam mops allegedly sold on Amazon since 2016, promoted on Twitter in 2017, and supported by May 2017 Amazon invoices.
- ›The holder contested public availability and argued that technical constraints limited design freedom and that the contested design differed in the mop head, grip line, tank shape, and absence of coloured inlays and raised appliques.
- ›The Division accepted the Amazon listings as sufficient proof of disclosure under Article 7(1), but rejected the separate test-report reference because no exact source or publication evidence was provided.
- ›It found the differences in the head shape, middle section, tank, surface treatment, and grip angle enough to create a different overall impression, so the invalidity application was rejected.
Deciding panel
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberWolfgang SCHRAMEK
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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