Invalidity · first instance · 2025-03-17
000124515
Contested design: 003060235-0001
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 003060235-0001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Sowing Success Limitedvia PDF extraction
United Kingdom (GB)
20 Park Road North, Newton-Le-Willows WA12 9TE, United Kingdom
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Heinrich Braun
Denmark (DK)
Drisdalsvej 34, 4100 Ringsted, Denmark
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
artificial plant with willow-like stems braided in a long, thin and straight line with a branched crown
Community design No 001562646-0002 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2009-07-31
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued the contested willow design lacked individual character over earlier RCD D2, saying the only difference was a non-distinctive trimmed top instead of a crown.
- ›The holder said the contested design was a distinct do-it-yourself willow product, stressing the absence of a crown, the straight form, nine stems, a bottom zip tie, and a decorative top knot.
- ›The Division treated both products as artificial plants, found broad designer freedom, and accepted publication of D2 in the Community Designs Bulletin as sufficient prior disclosure.
- ›It concluded that the contested design produced the same overall impression as D2, upheld the invalidity application, and declared the contested design invalid.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberChiara BORACE
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deDeutsch (de) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| esespañol (es) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| ititaliano (it) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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