Invalidity · first instance · 2026-04-13
000128978
Contested design: 007133111-0009
Outcome
The application for a declaration of invalidity is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs.
Show verbatim operative text(it)
1. La domanda di dichiarazione di nullità del disegno o modello dell’UE registrato n. 007133111-0009 è respinta. 2. La richiedente sopporta l’onere delle spese del titolare.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Altoni Leather Italy s.r.l.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Altamura, Italia
Represented by
Vincenzo Vinciguerra
Holder · RCD owner
Franco Ferri S.r.l.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Altamura, Italia
Prior art cited (5)
Romeo sofa design
RCD No 002044404-0008 · Community Designs Bulletin · disclosed 2012-02-14
Promotional article showing the Calia Romeo sofa model
https://www.salonemilano.it · salonemilano.it · disclosed 2025-02-05
Facebook post showing the Raymond sofa model
https://www.facebook.com · Facebook
Facebook post showing the Raymond sofa model
https://www.facebook.com · Facebook
Facebook post showing the Raymond sofa model
https://www.facebook.com · Facebook
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character, relying on the earlier Romeo and Raymond sofa designs and arguing that the contested sofa reproduced their distinctive features.
- ›The holder replied that the contested design remained new and individually distinctive because its visible metal frame, headrest construction, proportions, and overall structure differed materially from the cited designs.
- ›The Division accepted D1 and D3-D5 as disclosed prior art but rejected D2 as evidence because its dates were after the contested design's 26 October 2019 filing date.
- ›The Division found that the contested design created a different overall impression from D1 and D3-D5, especially due to the headrests, side frame, and footrest, so it had individual character and was not identical to the prior designs.
- ›The invalidity application was rejected and the applicant was ordered to bear the holder's costs.
Deciding panel
- MemberEnrico D’ERRICO
- MemberChiara BORACE
- MemberJessica N. LEWIS
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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