Invalidity · first instance · 2026-02-13
000130847
Contested design: 015066760-0001
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 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 (5)
BIC J26 Maxi Lighter leaflet depicting a dark blue flint maxi lighter
BIC Australia Pty Ltd leaflet (copyright notice ©2012)
Screenshot showing the dark blue flint lighter
https://mybiclighter.com · Internet Archive Wayback Machine · disclosed 2015-02-20
BiC Lighters Europe brochure including BIC J26 Maxi Lighter
BiC Lighters Europe brochure
BiC 40 Years, you lights you brochure with BIC lighters timeline
BiC 40 Years, you lights you brochure
BiC European Lighter Catalogue 2016 showing BIC maxi lighter and J26 Flint Lighters
BiC European Lighter Catalogue 2016
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on longstanding disclosures of its BIC J26 maxi lighter in catalogues, brochures and on the internet.
- ›The holder filed no observations in response to the invalidity application.
- ›The Division found the combined annexes sufficiently proved prior disclosure of the dark blue BIC J26 maxi lighter before the contested design’s filing date.
- ›Given the designer’s at least average freedom, the contested design created the same overall impression as the prior lighter and lacked individual character.
- ›The application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to pay EUR 720 in costs.
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 ↗ |
Locarno classes
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