Invalidity · first instance · 2025-06-25
000124768
Contested design: 004731347-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered EU design No 004731347-0003 is rejected. 2. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Airtechnic - Chatzoudis Etaireia Periorismenis Euthynisvia PDF extraction
GR
Nea Chalkidona, Athens, Greece
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
D.Ellinas Factory Products LTDvia PDF extraction
CY
Limassol, Cyprus
Represented by
Konstantina Diola
Prior art cited (4)
inspection/access panels shown on the holder's website, catalogue and LinkedIn post
http://dellinas.eu/ · Wayback Machine / holder website · disclosed 2014-11-21
square inspection/access panel with rounded corners
KNAUF Drywall Systems catalogue · KNAUF catalogue dated 09/2007
square inspection/access panel variant disclosed in the same catalogue
KNAUF Drywall Systems catalogue · KNAUF catalogue dated 09/2007
inspection/access panel shown in a EUROFIRST leaflet
Technical description of the PPM/WA TVS access panels and its materials · EUROFIRST leaflet
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on earlier inspection-hole designs disclosed on the holder's website, LinkedIn, catalogues and third-party catalogues.
- ›The holder disputed disclosure, invoked the Article 7 exception for its own earlier materials, argued the contested design had distinct functional and visual features, and cited related Cyprus court proceedings.
- ›The Division found D1 and D3 were not proven disclosures because the representations and dating evidence were insufficient, while the KNAUF catalogue adequately disclosed two prior designs labelled D2.1 and D2.2.
- ›Comparing D2.1 and D2.2 with the contested design, the Division found clear visual differences in framing, corners, surface and views, so the contested design retained individual character and the application failed.
Deciding panel
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberBenjamin VAN BAVEL
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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