Invalidity · first instance · 2026-01-28
000130702
Contested design: 015085909-0001
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 015085909-0001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 720.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €720
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Alpine Nederland B.V.via PDF extraction
Netherlands (NL)
Utrecht, Netherlands
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Ningbo Huaqia Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
China (CN)
Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
Prior art cited (1)
hearing protectors
EU design registration No 015044948-0001 · EU Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2024-01-05
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of individual character over an earlier published EU design for hearing protectors, arguing designer freedom in earmuffs was at least wide enough that the similarities were decisive.
- ›The holder was invited to respond but filed no observations.
- ›The Division accepted disclosure of earlier EU design No 015044948-0001 through its 5 January 2024 bulletin publication and assessed the informed user as a person familiar with earmuffs.
- ›It found the shared oval ear cups, rectangular connectors, and adjustable arched headband dominated the overall impression, while size, logo, colour, and material differences were minor.
- ›The application was upheld because the contested design lacked individual character under Article 6(1)(b) EUDR, and the holder was ordered to pay EUR 720 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberEnrico D'ERRICO
- MemberDimitrios ANDRIANOPOULOS
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 ↗ |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000132104 vs Shenzhen Damai Network Technology Co., Ltd. | 2026-05-21 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000127579 vs VICTORIA CARLOTA TERCEÑO JIMENEZ | 2026-04-15 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000131324 vs Song Li | 2026-03-11 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000130815 vs CYBROG PTE. LTD. | 2026-02-12 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000130769 vs CYBROG PTE. LTD. | 2026-02-12 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000130811 vs CYBROG PTE. LTD. | 2026-02-12 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000130812 vs CYBROG PTE. LTD. | 2026-02-12 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |
| 000130814 vs CYBROG PTE. LTD. | 2026-02-12 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 02 | 8 |