Invalidity · first instance · 2025-03-19
000123378
Contested design: 008561021-0004
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested RCD is declared invalid, and the holder must bear costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered Community design No 008561021-0004 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Turlen Holding SAvia PDF extraction
Switzerland (CH)
Rue du Jura 11, 2345 Les Breuleux Switzerland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Gongjue Brand management (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
China (CN)
(self-edited Building 1) No. 106, Fengze East Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou China
Represented by
Isabelle Bertaux
Prior art cited (1)
Applicant's RM 11-03 'Chronograph Flyback' wristwatch shown for sale on the applicant-cited website.
www.my-watchsite.fr
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, arguing the contested wristwatch copied the design DNA of its Richard Mille RM 11-03 watch.
- ›The applicant relied on website screenshots showing its RM 11-03 Chronograph Flyback offered for sale since 2016; the holder filed no observations.
- ›The Division accepted the internet evidence as sufficient disclosure, found broad designer freedom for wristwatches, and identified many shared arbitrary visual features between the designs.
- ›Those similarities outweighed the dial, crown, strap-colour, and other differences, so the contested design produced the same overall impression and lacked individual character.
Deciding panel
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberEnrico D'ERRICO
- MemberDimitrios ANDRIANOPOULOS
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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