Invalidity · first instance · 2024-10-25
000126162
Contested design: 015053401-0008
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must pay EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 015053401-0008 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Nintendo of Europe SEvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Goldsteinstrasse 235, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Holder · RCD owner
Huizhou Ronghui Technology Co., Ltd.
China (CN)
Dazhou First Industrial Zone, Liboshui Village, Boluo County, Shiwan Town, China
Represented by
Dimitris Morides
Prior art cited (3)
News article "Nintendo Switch launches on 3rd March!" showing the earlier disclosed set of detachable game controllers for the Nintendo Switch.
https://www.nintendo.co.uk · Nintendo website · disclosed 2017-01-13
Article "Here's everything we just learned about Nintendo's new $300 console, the Switch" showing the earlier disclosed set of detachable game controllers.
https://www.businessinsider.com · Business Insider · disclosed 2017-01-13
Overview of design corpus for game control pads submitted on designer freedom.
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested game control pad design lacked individual character over its earlier disclosed Nintendo Switch detachable controllers and also invoked lack of novelty.
- ›The holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Division accepted the online disclosures as prior art under Article 7(1) CDR and assessed individual character first for procedural economy.
- ›It found the pad shape, ergonomic back portion, and overall button layout so similar that the added buttons and surface pattern did not change the overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid in full, and the holder was ordered to pay costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberRebecca Julia SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberEmmanuel COLLIN
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deGerman | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| esSpanish | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frFrench | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | human translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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