Invalidity · first instance · 2024-11-12
000126169
Contested design: 015014827-0002
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 015014827-0002 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Jinfeng Minvia PDF extraction
China (CN)
No. 69, Sunjia Village, Shengli Village Committee, Hongmei Street, Tianning District, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province 213000, China
Holder · RCD owner
Shenzhen Yongshanfang Biotechnology Co., LTD
China (CN)
401-9, Linzhan Fortune Building, Shenfeng Road, Liuyue Community, Henggang Street, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
remote controls
Community design No 001828492-0001 · Office bulletin · disclosed 2011-03-03
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, arguing the contested remote control was an almost identical reproduction of an earlier Community design.
- ›The applicant relied on earlier Community design No 001828492-0001 published on 03/03/2011; the holder, invited to respond as Preferred Home Limited, filed no observations.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted the earlier RCD as disclosed prior art and found broad designer freedom for remote controls, with only minor differences between the designs.
- ›The common shape, colours, button layout, surface pattern and eyelet created the same overall impression on the informed user, so the prior design destroyed individual character.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid in full, and the holder was ordered to bear fixed costs of EUR 750.
Deciding panel
- MemberRebecca 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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