Invalidity · first instance · 2025-10-10
000125778
Contested design: 006658613-0016
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, Registered EU design No 006658613-0016 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 EU design No 006658613-0016 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Vitra Collections AGvia PDF extraction
Switzerland (CH)
Muttenz, Switzerland
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Lei Hou
China (CN)
Shanghai, China
Represented by
Maria Ioannides
Prior art cited (3)
catalog page showing the 'Eames Plastic Armchair DSW' chair
VITRA 'Home Stories' · VITRA 'Home Stories' catalogue
French catalogue page showing the 'Eames Plastic Armchair DSW' chair
VITRA 'Eames Plastic Chair' · VITRA 'Eames Plastic Chair' catalogue
online image of the 'Eames Plastic Armchair DSW' chair
Twitter post by @3docean_new · Twitter · disclosed 2016-12-23
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued that the contested chair lacked novelty and individual character over earlier disclosures of the Eames Plastic Armchair DSW and also invoked copyright-based invalidity.
- ›Because the design had expired, the applicant additionally requested a decision on the merits under Article 24(2); the holder filed no observations.
- ›The Division accepted the 2015 and 2018 VITRA catalogues and the 23/12/2016 Twitter post as prior public disclosures and treated designer freedom for chairs as very broad.
- ›It found the shared seat shell, wooden legs, X-shaped crosspieces and black fittings dominated the overall impression, while the seat-colour difference did not, so the design lacked individual character and was invalidated.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D'ERRICO
- MemberEmmanuel COLLIN
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
Similar decisions
Ranked by shared Locarno class + shared legal grounds + matching outcome. Click a case to view full detail.
| Case | Date | Outcome | Shared grounds | Locarno | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000131404 vs Jiahe Lin | 2026-05-21 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000128578 vs Washtower IP B.V. | 2026-05-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000128655 vs Washtower IP B.V. | 2026-05-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000128637 vs Washtower IP B.V. | 2026-05-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000128735 vs OÜ REPSTON | 2026-04-24 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000129372 vs Xuefang Cai | 2026-03-12 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000130973 vs Højer Møbler A/S | 2026-03-10 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |
| 000130975 vs Højer Møbler A/S | 2026-03-10 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 06 | 8 |