Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2002Show full title

Section 5 U.K. Invalidity

Article 24 U.K. Declaration of invalidity

F1 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. A [F2 supplementary unregistered] design may be declared invalid even after [F3 it] has lapsed F4 ....

3. An unregistered [F5 supplementary unregistered] design shall be declared invalid by a F6 ... design court on application to such a court or on the basis of a counterclaim in infringement proceedings.

Textual Amendments

F1 Art. 24(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(a) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Words in Art. 24(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(b)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Word in Art. 24(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(b)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 Words in Art. 24(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(b)(iii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Words in Art. 24(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(c)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Word in Art. 24(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 21(c)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 25 U.K. Grounds for invalidity

1. A [F7 supplementary unregistered] design may be declared invalid only in the following cases:

(a) if the design does not correspond to the definition under Article 3(a);

(b) if it does not fulfil the requirements of Articles 4 to 9;

(c) if, by virtue of a court decision, the right holder is not entitled to the F8 ... design under Article 14;

F9 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) if a distinctive sign is used in a subsequent design, and F10 ... the law F11 ... governing that sign confers on the right holder of the sign the right to prohibit such use;

(f) if the design constitutes an unauthorised use of a work protected under F12 ... copyright law F13 ...;

(g) if the design constitutes an improper use of any of the items listed in Article 6ter of the ‘Paris Convention’ for the Protection of Industrial Property hereafter referred to as the ‘Paris Convention’, or of badges, emblems and escutcheons other than those covered by the said Article 6ter and which are of particular public interest in [F14 the United Kingdom, a qualifying country or a qualifying territory].

2. The ground provided for in paragraph (1)(c) may be invoked solely by the person who is entitled to the [F15 supplementary unregistered] design under Article 14.

3. The grounds provided for in paragraph (1) F16 ..., (e) and (f) may be invoked solely by F17 ... holder of the earlier right.

4. The ground provided for in paragraph (1)(g) may be invoked solely by the person or entity concerned by the use.

F18 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in Art. 25(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F8 Word in Art. 25(1)(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Art. 25(1)(d) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(iii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10 Words in Art. 25(1)(e) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(iv)(aa) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 Words in Art. 25(1)(e) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(iv)(bb) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F12 Word in Art. 25(1)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(v)(aa) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F13 Words in Art. 25(1)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(v)(bb) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in Art. 25(1)(g) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(a)(vi) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Words in Art. 25(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(b) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 Word in Art. 25(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(c)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F17 Words in Art. 25(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(c)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F18 Art. 25(5) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(d) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F19 Art. 25(6) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 22(d) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 26 U.K. Consequences of invalidity

1. A [F20 supplementary unregistered] design shall be deemed not to have had, as from the outset, the effects specified in this Regulation, to the extent that it has been declared invalid.

2. Subject to F21 ... claims for compensation for damage caused by negligence or lack of good faith on the part of the holder of the [F22 supplementary unregistered] design, or to unjust enrichment, the retroactive effect of invalidity of the [F22 supplementary unregistered] design shall not affect:

(a) any decision on infringement which has acquired the authority of a final decision and been enforced prior to the invalidity decision;

(b) any contract concluded prior to the invalidity decision, in so far as it has been performed before the decision; however, repayment, to an extent justified by the circumstances, of sums paid under the relevant contract may be claimed on grounds of equity.

Textual Amendments

F20 Words in Art. 26(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 23(a) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F21 Words in Art. 26(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 23(b)(i) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F22 Words in Art. 26(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Designs and International Trade Marks (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/638), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 23(b)(ii) (with reg. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. 1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 14, 19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)