Invalidity · first instance · 2025-09-17
000127275
Contested design: 015057959-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested EU design is declared invalid, and the holder must bear costs fixed at EUR 720.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered EU design No 0150667600001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 720.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €720
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Societe Bic, société anonymevia PDF extraction
France (FR)
Clichy, France
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Ying Caovia PDF extraction
China (CN)
Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
BiC J26 maxi flint lighter in dark blue
BIC Australia leaflet, archived mybiclighter.com page, and BIC brochures/catalogues
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested lighter lacked novelty and individual character because its long-used BiC maxi lighter had been publicly disclosed for years through sales, catalogues, brochures, and its website.
- ›It also argued that the flame-adjustment slot was purely technical and should not affect the comparison; the holder filed no observations in response.
- ›The Division accepted the combined affidavit, leaflet, website archive, and catalogue evidence as proving public disclosure of the prior BiC lighter before the filing date.
- ›It found the designs shared the same overall shape, proportions, and hood elements, and that the contested design created the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid for lack of individual character, and costs of EUR 720 were awarded against the holder.
Deciding panel
- MemberCarlos MATEO PÉREZ
- MemberLudmila ČELIŠOVÁ
- MemberEmmanuel COLLIN
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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