62025TJ0082_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 10 December 2025 –LTV Leuchten & Lampen v EUIPO –XAL (Lighting fittings)
(Case T‑82/25)
(EU design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered EU design representing a lighting fitting – Prior designs – Ground for invalidity – No disclosure of the prior designs – Prior designs produced after the filing of the application for a declaration of invalidity – Procedural irregularities before the Cancellation Division – Refusal to grant the applicant’s requests for measures of inquiry and for an oral hearing – Misuse of powers)
1.
EU designs – Procedural provisions – Measures of inquiry – Hearing of parties or witnesses and expert’s report – Discretion of the Office – Judicial review – Scope – Limits
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 65(1)(a)(d) and (e); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 43(1))
(see paragraphs 18, 19, 26, 28, 29)
2.
EU designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Disclosure to the public – Proof of the disclosure
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 7(1))
(see paragraphs 22-24)
3.
EU designs – Procedural provisions – Measures of inquiry – Hearing of parties or witnesses and expert’s report – Discretion of the Office – Scope – Limits – Misuse of powers
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 65(1)(a)(d) and (e); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 43(1))
(see paragraph 37)
4.
EU designs – Appeals procedure – Recourse to the oral procedure – Discretion of the Office
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 64(1))
(see paragraph 44)
5.
EU designs – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in due time – Account taken – Prior design produced after the filing of the application for a declaration of invalidity – Precluded
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 52(2); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 28(1)(b)(v))
(see paragraphs 51-54)
6.
EU designs – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision taken by a department of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 60(1))
(see paragraphs 59, 60)
7.
EU designs – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in due time – Account taken – Discretion of EUIPO
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 63(2); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 28(1)(b)(v) and (vi))
(see paragraphs 63-65)
8.
Judicial proceedings – Decision given by reasoned order – Conditions – Action manifestly inadmissible or manifestly lacking any foundation in law – Ineffective pleas in law
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 126)
(see paragraph 72)
9.
EU designs – Conditions for protection– Individual character – Design giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Determination of the overall impression in relation to one or more earlier designs, taken individually
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 6(1)(b))
(see paragraph 79)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders LTV Leuchten & Lampen Vertriebs GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by XAL GmbH;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.