62021TJ0001_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 2 March 2022 –Fabryki Mebli “Forte” v EUIPO – Bog-Fran (Furniture)
(Case T‑1/21) (
1
)
(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing an item of furniture – Ground for invalidity – No individual character – Article 6(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 – Disclosure of the earlier design – Article 7(1) of Regulation No 6/2002 – Decision adopted following the annulment by the General Court of an earlier decision – Res judicata)
1.
Action for annulment – Judgment annulling a measure – Scope – Absolute authority of res judicata – Scope – Both operative part and grounds to be taken into account
(Arts 264 and 266 TFEU)
(see paras 26, 27)
2.
Community designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188)
(see para. 37)
3.
Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Disclosure to the public – Proof of the disclosure
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 7(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 41, 42, 47, 50, 56, 57)
4.
Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Disclosure to the public – Exception – Facts not reasonably capable of being known to specialist circles of the sector concerned
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 7(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 48, 49)
5.
Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Criteria for assessment – Creative licence
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6 and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 67, 81)
6.
Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Global assessment of all the elements of the earlier design
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6 and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 68, 75, 80)
7.
Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Determination of the overall impression having regard to the manner of use of the product
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6 and 25(1)(b))
(see para. 76)
8.
Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Representation of an item of furniture
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6 and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 79, 82, 84, 86)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Fabryki Mebli “Forte” S.A. to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Bog-Fran sp. z o.o. sp.k.
(
1
)	OJ C 62, 22.2.2021.