Invalidity · first instance · 2026-05-19
000128557
Contested design: 003151570-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is rejected, and the applicant must bear the holder's costs fixed at EUR 400.
Show verbatim operative text(de)
1. Der Antrag auf Nichtigerklärung des eingetragenen EU-Geschmacksmusters Nr. 003151570-0001 wird zurückgewiesen. 2. Die Antragstellerin trägt die Kosten der Inhaberin, die auf 400 EUR festgesetzt werden.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs of €400
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Wasombouw B.V.via PDF extraction
Netherlands (NL)
Kaatsheuvel, Niederlande
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Washtower IP B.V.
Netherlands (NL)
Hengelo, Niederlande
Prior art cited (4)
Unterschrank für Waschmaschinen mit einer ausziehbaren und abschließbaren Schublade zum Aufbewahren von Waschmittel
DE 203 02 572 U 1 · DPMA · disclosed 2003-05-28
single washing machine cabinet / washing machine cabinet allegedly developed, produced and sold by Woonvorm
Woonvorm statement and former website photo/screenshot · disclosed 2014-02-10
Piece of furniture in which a washing machine can be placed and method for manufacture thereof
WO 2018/065631 A1 · WIPO · disclosed 2018-04-12
undated website screenshot cited for technical-function arguments
wastoren.nl · wastoren.nl
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The applicant sought invalidity for lack of novelty and individual character over earlier washing-machine cabinet disclosures and argued that the contested design's features were solely technically dictated.
- ›The holder argued the application was abusive and insufficiently substantiated, denied valid disclosure of the cited prior designs, and maintained that the contested design created a different overall impression.
- ›The Division rejected the abuse objection, treated the Article 8 ground as admissible but unproven, accepted disclosure of D1, found D2 not properly proven, and excluded the later Nolte Küchen-Modul 2015 from the case.
- ›Comparing D1 with the contested design, the Division found clear differences in structure, proportions and overall impression, so the invalidity application was rejected and costs were awarded against the applicant.
Deciding panel
- MemberIvan PRANDZHEV
- MemberNatascha GALPERIN
- MemberIvo TSENKOV
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| deGerman | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
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