Invalidity · first instance · 2026-06-29
000131605
Contested design: 015068162-0002
Outcome
The invalidity application is upheld and EU design No 015068162-0002 is declared invalid; the holder bears costs of EUR 320.
Show verbatim operative text
1. The application for a declaration of invalidity is upheld. 2. Registered EU design No 015068162-0002 is declared invalid. 3. The holder bears the costs, fixed at EUR 320.
CostsHolder ordered to pay costs of €320
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
Metale Internationalvia PDF extraction
Romania (RO)
Focsani, Romania
Holder · RCD owner
Wistron Industrial Co., LTDvia PDF extraction
SC
Victoria Mahe, Seychelles
Represented by
Prior art cited (4)
HYSCO-Hyundai 'Electronic Galvanized Steel Sheet & Coil' guide, steel coil packing
HYSCO-Hyundai · disclosed 2008-12-31
TT CLUB guide 'Transport of Coiled Materials in Containers'
TT CLUB · disclosed 2016-12-31
CMA CGM 'Technical Guidelines for STEEL COILS in ISO Containers'
CMA CGM · disclosed 2011-08-08
Steel coil package on pallet (fanghuasteel.com article)
https://fanghuasteel.com, article 'Steel Coins and Sheets Packaging' · FANGHUA STEEL website (fanghuasteel.com) · disclosed 2024-03-21
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›Applicant (Metale International) challenged the steel coil packaging design for lack of individual character over prior designs published in industry guides (2008-2016) and online sources; argued the contested design is a standard method of packaging steel coils used widely in maritime transport for over 12 years.
- ›Holder did not submit any observations in reply.
- ›Division admitted the fanghuasteel.com article (21/03/2024, Annex 4) as sufficient proof of disclosure; found that designer freedom is average (constrained by the cylindrical shape of the coil but otherwise free); in comparison, both designs share the same grey hollow cylinder shape, three circumferential bands, two dark securing straps, transverse bands, wooden pallet-like support, and exposed central opening; minor differences in band number, width, and pallet shape did not produce a different overall impression.
- ›Application upheld; contested EU design No 015068162-0002 declared invalid for lack of individual character under Article 6 EUDR; no need to examine novelty.
Deciding panel
- MemberGailė SAKALAITĖ-ORLOVSKIENĖ
- MemberRasa BARAKAUSKIENĖ
- MemberCarlos MATEO PÉREZ
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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