Invalidity · first instance · 2025-07-17
000128576
Contested design: 015055660-0004
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested EU design 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 EU design No 015055660-0004 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
F-H-S International GmbH & Co. KGvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Mönchengladbach, Germany
Represented by
Dr. Marc Zain, Michael Gürke, LL.M.
Prior art cited (1)
Stands for Christmas trees
EU design registration No 015052398-0002 · Office Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2024-04-16
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity under Article 25(1)(d) EUDR based on its earlier registered EU design No 015052398-0002 and argued both designs create the same overall impression.
- ›The applicant also argued designers had broad freedom for Christmas tree stands and filed additional registry extracts to illustrate that freedom.
- ›The holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Invalidity Division found the earlier design was protected before the contested filing date but disclosed only afterward, and that the contested design did not produce a different overall impression.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid, and costs were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberEmmanuel COLLIN
- 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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