Invalidity · first instance · 2026-06-10
000130925
Contested design: 015111662-0001
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld and registered EU design No 015111662-0001 is declared invalid; the holder bears the costs fixed at EUR 720.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered EU design No 015111662-0001 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 720.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €720
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Christian Schäfervia PDF extraction
Germany (DE)
Neu-Isenburg, Germany
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Deyu Capital S.r.L.via PDF extraction
Romania (RO)
Criscior, Romania
Prior art cited (1)
'plantvibes wedding guest book' — book cover ornamentation with stylised handwritten 'Gästebuch' script
https://www.amazon.de, ASIN B0CJ38FXHY · amazon.de · disclosed 2023-09-23
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant (Christian Schäfer) argued that the contested design for book-cover ornamentation (stylised 'Gästebuch' lettering) lacks individual character in view of an identical product (ASIN B0CJ38FXHY) offered on Amazon.de since 23/09/2023, well before the filing date of 23/07/2025; colour differences are immaterial.
- ›Holder argued it had itself disclosed an earlier version on Amazon.de on 19/09/2023 (ASIN B0CJ35Y6DB) as an unregistered EU design predating the applicant's product, and submitted Keepa.com data showing the applicant's product was listed only from February 2024.
- ›The Division held that the holder's arguments regarding its own earlier unregistered design and the applicant's alleged copying were irrelevant to the invalidity assessment; the applicant's prior design (ASIN B0CJ38FXHY) was available to the public on 23/09/2023, predating the contested design's filing date; the verbal element's stylisation and overall appearance are identical, with only a colour difference insufficient to endow individual character.
- ›Application upheld; contested design declared invalid for lack of individual character under Article 6(1)(b) EUDR.
Deciding panel
- MemberRebecca SANTANA DAVIES
- MemberChiara BORACE
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
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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