Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 29 April 2020 –Bergslagernas Järnvaru v EUIPO — Scheppach Fabrikation von Holzbearbeitungsmaschinen (Wood-splitting tool)
(Case T‑73/19)
(Community design — Invalidity proceedings — Registered Community design representing a wood-splitting tool — Earlier national design — Ground for invalidity — No individual character — No different overall impression — Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 — Infringement of the rights of the defence — Article 62 of Regulation No 6/2002)
1.      Community designs — Procedural provisions — Decisions of the Office — Observance of the rights of the defence — Scope of the principle
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 62)
(see paras 15, 21)
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 paras 24, 38, 39, 41, 42, 52, 69)
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
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see para. 25)
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 — Informed user — Definition
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 26, 58, 64, 70, 75)
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 — Representation of a tool for cutting wood
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(1) and 25(1)(b))
(see paras 27, 28, 40, 43, 46, 53-56, 63, 65, 71-74, 77)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Third Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 November 2018 (Case R 1455/2018-3), relating to invalidity proceedings between Scheppach Fabrikation von Holzbearbeitungsmaschinen and Bergslagernas Järnvaru.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Bergslagernas Järnvaruaktiebolag to pay the costs.