Invalidity · first instance · 2026-02-27
000127242
Contested design: 000732607-0004
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld, the contested EU design is declared invalid, and the holder must pay costs fixed at EUR 750.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Dem Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung wird stattgegeben. 2. Das eingetragene EU-Geschmacksmuster Nr. 000732607-0004 wird für nichtig erklärt. 3. Die Inhaberin trägt die Kosten, die auf 750 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Robert Bosch GmbHvia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Gerlingen, Deutschland
Holder · RCD owner
KNIPEX-WERK C. Gustav Putsch KG
Germany (DE)
Wuppertal, Germany
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
pliers
Chinese design No. 3040630 (application No. 95301009.0) · WIPO Global Design Database / Chinese Patent Office · disclosed 1996-02-07
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character based on an earlier Chinese design disclosed before the contested filing date.
- ›The holder asked for rejection, disputed similarity in detail, argued the earlier design was merely an imitation of its own product, and requested an oral hearing in the alternative.
- ›The Division found the earlier design was publicly disclosed through Chinese office publication on 1996-02-07 and that alleged imitation was irrelevant to the invalidity assessment.
- ›With at least average design freedom, the visible parts of both plier designs produced the same overall impression on the informed user.
- ›The invalidity application was upheld, the contested design was declared invalid, and the holder was ordered to bear EUR 750 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberWolfgang SCHRAMEK
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberThorsten ICKENROTH
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
Locarno classes
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