Invalidity · first instance · 2026-03-17
000129160
Contested design: 004160273-0009
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must pay the holder's fixed costs of EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text
The application for a declaration of invalidity of registered EU design No 004160273-0009 is rejected. The applicant bears the holder’s costs, fixed at EUR 400.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
New Balance Athletics, Inc.via PDF extraction
United States (US)
Boston, United States
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Road Star Groupvia PDF extraction
Czechia (CZ)
Praha 10 - Štěrboholy, Czech Republic
Represented by
Prior art cited (1)
New Balance Model 574 training shoe
ML574MDD · Winter and Fall 2016 product catalogue
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, alleged copyright infringement, and claimed the design offended public policy because it copied the New Balance 574 shoe.
- ›The holder argued only the 2016 catalogue predated filing, the compared designs created different overall impressions, copyright ownership and infringement were unproven, and the public-policy theory was legally misplaced.
- ›The Division accepted catalogue Exhibit 5 as the only relevant prior disclosure, but found the prominent lateral N element, proportions, and panel structure gave the contested shoe a different overall impression.
- ›It also found Article 25(1)(f) unsubstantiated for lack of proof of copyright ownership and applicable French law, and rejected the public-policy ground as outside Article 9 EUDR.
- ›The invalidity application was rejected in full, and the applicant was ordered to pay EUR 400 in costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D'ERRICO
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberCarlos MATEO PÉREZ
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 ↗ |
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