Invalidity · first instance · 2025-10-21
000127337
Contested design: 002819391-0003
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld, the registered EU design No. 002819391-0003 is declared invalid, and the holder must bear costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. 2. Das eingetragene EU-Geschmacksmuster Nr. 002819391-0003 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Der Inhaber trägt die Kosten, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
WIPO-Elektrotechnik GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Schwanstetten, Deutschland
Holder · RCD owner
Engelbert Theben
Germany (DE)
Borken, Deutschland
Represented by
Kathrin Schulze Horn
Prior art cited (1)
POWER ECK socket strip / socket column
Lightbook 2014/2015 · Lightbook 2014/2015 catalog
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant argued the contested socket-strip design was non-unitary and lacked novelty and individual character over the earlier POWER ECK product disclosed before filing.
- ›The holder challenged the evidentiary value and visibility of the cited images, stressed differences in front width, openings, materials and colours, and argued any view inconsistency could be cured by interpretation or deleting image 3.3.
- ›The Division accepted D1 as publicly disclosed through the Lightbook 2014/2015 catalog distributed in the EU before the filing date and found broad designer freedom apart from standardized socket constraints.
- ›It held that the shared elongated trapezoidal corner-strip form, asymmetric stacked sockets and axial cover dominated the overall impression, while differences in socket count, colour, proportions and rear details were minor.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested design lacked individual character, and the holder was ordered to bear the applicant's costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberAlvaro SESMA MERINO
- MemberWolfgang SCHRAMEK
- MemberThorsten ICKENROTH
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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