Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 21 June 2018 –
Haverkamp IP v EUIPO — Sissel (Pebble beach surface pattern)

(Case T‑228/16)

(Community design — Invalidity proceedings — International registration designating the European Union — Registered Community design representing a pebble beach surface pattern — Earlier design — Grounds for invalidity — Lack of novelty — Article 5 and Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002)

1. 

Community designs—Ground for invalidity—Lack of novelty—Previous disclosure of identical design—Proof of the disclosure

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 5(1)(b) and (2), 7(1) and 25(1)(b); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 28(1)(b)(v) and (vi))

(see paras 22, 25-27)

2. 

Community designs—Ground for invalidity—Lack of novelty—Previous disclosure of identical design—Representation of a pebble beach surface pattern

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 5(1)(b), 7(1) and 25(1)(b))

(see paras 38-40, 46-48)

3. 

Community designs—Ground for invalidity—Lack of novelty—Previous disclosure of identical design—Earlier design intended to be incorporated into a different product or to be applied to such product—Irrelevant

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 5(1))

(see para. 42)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Third Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 February 2016 (Case R 2619/2014-3) concerning invalidity proceedings between Sissel and Mr Haverkamp.

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Haverkamp IP GmbH to pay the costs.