62023TJ0545_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 13 November 2024 –G.M.P. Group v EUIPO – Audi (Vehicle wheel rims)
(Case T‑545/23)
(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing vehicle wheel rims – Earlier design – Grounds for invalidity – Individual character – Overall impression – Degree of freedom of the designer – Article 6 and Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002)
1.
Community designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61)
(see paragraph 16)
2.
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(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 24, 25, 51-53)
3.
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 – Freedom of the designer
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(2) and 25(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 27, 29, 31, 54)
4.
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 – Saturation of the state of the art – Relevance
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 6(1))
(see paragraphs 30, 36)
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 – Informed user – Definition
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(1), 10(1) and 25(1)(d))
(see paragraphs 32, 33)
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 – Saturation of the state of the art – Date of assessment
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 6(1))
(see paragraph 37)
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 – Representation of vehicle wheel rims
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 6(1))
(see paragraphs 46, 58-67)
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 – Determination of the overall impression having regard to the manner of use of the product – Impact of the visible features of the product on the ease with which it can be used
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see paragraph 53)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders G.M.P. Group Srl to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Audi AG in the proceedings before the General Court;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.