Invalidity · first instance · 2026-03-27
000129363
Contested design: 015029534-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested Registered EU design is declared invalid, and the holder must pay EUR 750 in costs.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered EU design No 015029534-0002 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 750.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €750
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
BTicino S.p.A.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Varese (VA), Italy
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Wenzhou Haotian Electric Co., Ltd.
China (CN)
Wenzhou, Zhenjiang, China
Represented by
Prior art cited (2)
BTicino 'LivingNow' switch shown in the applicant's 05/2018 catalogue
BTicino catalogue (05/2018)
BTicino 'LivingNow' switch shown on the applicant's Instagram account
Instagram · disclosed 2021-08-04
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over its earlier BTicino LivingNow switch disclosed in a 2018 catalogue and a 2021 Instagram post.
- ›The holder disputed disclosure and identification of the prior design, argued that rear and side differences mattered, and requested oral proceedings and further evidentiary measures.
- ›The Invalidity Division accepted the catalogue and Instagram evidence as sufficient disclosure and found the informed user of switches would notice the shared elongated frame and vertical rocker layout.
- ›Minor differences in slits, proportions, and inner or rear structure did not change the overall impression; the design was invalidated and the holder was ordered to pay costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailé SAKALAITE-ORLOVSKIENE
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberEnrico D'ERRICO
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000129383 vs Wenzhou Haotian Electric Co., Ltd. | 2026-03-27 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000131764 vs Dongguan Penghui New Energy Technology Co., Ltd | 2026-03-19 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000129921 vs SHENZHEN EASTKING TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD | 2026-03-13 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000131186 vs Electronic Way Technology Co.,Ltd | 2026-03-09 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000128636 vs Guangzhou Quemou Trading Co., Ltd. | 2026-02-27 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000128598 vs Guangzhou Quemou Trading Co., Ltd. | 2026-02-17 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000129221 vs Shenzhen Guangtuo Da Lighting Co., LTD | 2026-01-27 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |
| 000130483 vs Haikou Mingshu Trading Co., Ltd. | 2026-01-15 | REUD invalidated | Art 25(1)(b) | 13 | 8 |