Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 19 October 2022 –  
Praesidiad v EUIPO – Zaun (Post)

(Case T‑231/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0231_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing a post – Ground for invalidity – Failure to comply with the requirements for protection – Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 – Features of appearance of a product solely dictated by its technical function – Article 8(1) of Regulation No 6/2002)

| 1. | Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – Designs dictated by their technical function – Features of appearance of a product which are dictated solely by its technical function – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account the relevant objective circumstances  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, recital 10 and Arts 8(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 16, 48) |

| 2. | Community designs – Application for registration – Conditions – Indication of the goods  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 8(1) and 36(6))  (see paragraphs 28, 29) |

| 3. | Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – Designs dictated by their technical function – Representation of a post  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 8(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 32, 40, 41, 46, 53-55) |

| 4. | Community designs – Requirements for protection – Designs dictated by their technical function – Features of appearance of a product which are dictated solely by its technical function – Criteria for assessment – Existence of alternative designs – Irrelevant  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 8(1))  (see paragraph 44) |

| 5. | Community designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61(3))  (see paragraphs 57, 58) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Third Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 15 February 2021 (Case R 2068/2019-3); |

| 2. | Rejects the application filed by Zaun Ltd on 27 March 2018 for a declaration that the design registered under the number 127204-0001 is invalid; |

| 3. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Praesidiad Holding; |

| 4. | Orders Zaun to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0231_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 278, 12.7.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:278:TOC).

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