Invalidity · first instance · 2026-03-27
000129383
Contested design: 015029534-0003
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld, the contested 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 015029534-0003 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 (1)
BTicino 'LivingNow' electric plate and switches
Instagram · disclosed 2021-01-12
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant argued the contested switch assembly lacked novelty and individual character over its earlier BTicino LivingNow switches disclosed before the priority date.
- ›Holder disputed proof of disclosure, contested the comparison because the evidence was incomplete, and requested oral proceedings, witness examination, and suspension of related proceedings.
- ›The Division accepted the Instagram printout in Annex 1 as sufficient internet disclosure from 12/01/2021 and found the designer's freedom for the visible features of switches relatively high.
- ›The Division held that the shared modular layout and overall configuration outweighed the differences, so the designs created the same overall impression and the contested design was invalidated in full.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailé SAKALAITE
- 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
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