Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 21 June 2023 –  
Rauch Furnace Technology v EUIPO – Musto et Bureau (Creuset)

(Case T‑347/22) (
[1](#t-ECR_62022TJ0347_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Community design representing a melting crucible – Prior design – Ground for invalidity – Lack of individual character – No different overall impression – Disclosure of prior design – Articles 6, 7 and Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 – Evidence filed in a language other than the language of the proceedings – Article 29(1) and (5), and Article 81(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2245/2002 – Facts or evidence relied on for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Article 63 of Regulation No 6/2002)

| 1. | Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Claim for a declaratory judgment – Inadmissibility  (Art. 263 TFEU)  (see paragraph 19) |

| 2. | Community designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Limits  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188)  (see paragraph 24) |

| 3. | Community 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 2018/625, Art. 27(4))  (see paragraphs 41, 42) |

| 4. | 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 paragraphs 55-59, 62) |

| 5. | Community designs – Surrender and invalidity – Application for a declaration of invalidity based on the existence of an earlier design – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 5 to 7, 25(1)(b), 52(1) and (2), and 53(1) and (2))  (see paragraphs 77, 78) |

| 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(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraph 79) |

| 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 a melting crucible  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6 and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 80-82) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Rauch Furnace Technology GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Musto et Bureau Srl; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62022TJ0347_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 294, 1.8.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:294:TOC).

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