Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 29 March 2023 –  
Tinnus Enterprises v EUIPO – Mystic Products  
and  
Koopman International (Fluid distribution equipment)

(Case T‑576/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0576_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing fluid distribution equipment – Ground for invalidity – Non-compliance with 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, Arts 8(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 25-28, 59) |

| 2. | Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – Designs dictated by their technical function – Representation of fluid distribution equipment  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 8(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 35, 36, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 69, 74, 84, 95) |

| 3. | Community designs – Surrender and invalidity – Application for a declaration of invalidity – Examination of the application – Designs dictated by their technical function – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 8(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraph 51) |

| 4. | 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 – Existence of alternative designs – Irrelevant  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 8(1) and 25(1)(b))  (see paragraph 85) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Tinnus Enterprises LLC to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Koopman International BV. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0576_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 462, 15.11.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:462:TOC).

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