Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 9 October 2024 –
Jopp – Pol Eksport – Import Ryszard Jopp – Krzysztof Jopp v EUIPO – SmarTT (Furniture legs)

(Case T‑554/23) ( 1 )

(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing furniture legs – Lack of individual character – Lack of different overall impression – Informed user – End user – Normal use – Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 – Article 6 and Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation No 6/2002 – Examination by the Office of the facts of its own motion – Article 63(1) of Regulation No 6/2002)

1. 

Community designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Direction addressed to the Office – Precluded

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61(3) and (6))

(see paragraph 14)

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 – Overall assessment of all the elements presented by the designs – Scope – Taking into account of the goods actually marketed – Conditions

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

(see paragraphs 26, 63)

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 – Representation of furniture legs

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

(see paragraphs 35, 65, 73, 77, 79)

4. 

Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Informed user – Concept

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

(see paragraphs 72, 74)

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Przedsiębiorstwo produkcyjno – usługowo – handlowe Jopp – Pol Eksport – Import Ryszard Jopp – Krzysztof Jopp sp.j. to pay the costs.

( 1 ) OJ C 226, 23.10.2023.