Author: Maggie Huang
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LD Düsseldorf, March 16, 2026, Decision, UPC_CFI_733/2024, UPC_CFI_255/2025
Court adopts functional claim construction, rejecting narrow interpretations (Art. 69 EPC): The court found that a “switchable device” is not limited to mechanical optics but includes electronic controls. “Coupling” does not require free-space propagation, and a “different second laser beam” does not necessitate a separate laser source or different wavelength. This functional approach was decisive…
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Local Division Munich, March 11, 2026, Decision, UPC_CFI_63/2024, UPC_CFI_449/2024
The “attacked embodiment” is defined by the claimant’s asserted technical features, not just specific product examples, and can include unknown or future products.: The claimant can exemplify infringement on a sample product. The burden then shifts to the defendant to specifically dispute why other listed products do not fall under this definition. Registration in the…
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CoA, November 25, 2025, Decision on competence of the divisions, amendments of the patent, added matter, novelty, inventive step, scope of protection, permanent injunctions, interim award of costs, UPC_CoA_464/2024 etc.
The “same parties” requirement for exclusive local division jurisdiction under Art. 33(4) UPCA means the parties must be identical legal entities.: A revocation action by a claimant company is not barred by a pending infringement action against its parent and another subsidiary, as they are not identical parties. An exception for res judicata effect did not apply…
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CoA, November 25, 2025, Decision on claim interpretation medical use claim, added matter, sufficiency, inventive step, reasonable expectation of success, UPC_CoA_528/2024, UPC_CoA_529/2024
Inventive step (Art. 56 EPC) exists if scientific uncertainty at the priority date prevented a ‘reasonable expectation of success’, even if there was a ‘hope to succeed’.: The Court found that uncertainty about the relative contribution of a protein’s intracellular versus extracellular pathways in vivo was a critical factor preventing a reasonable expectation of success. Prior art…
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Court of Appeal, July 22, 2025, decision on withdrawal of cost assessment application, UPC_CoA_845/2024
Jurisdiction for Cost Assessment: The Court of Appeal clarified that the Court of First Instance has exclusive jurisdiction over cost assessment applications. The applicant had mistakenly filed the application with the Court of Appeal instead of the competent Local Division. The Court of Appeal allowed the applicant for cost assessment to withdraw their application without…
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LD Mannheim, July 21, 2025, order on harmonization of time periods, UPC_CFI_79/2025
Harmonizing Time Limits in Joint Proceedings: When a counterclaim for revocation (CCR) is filed jointly with a statement of defense, the time limit for responding to the CCR begins only after the claimant receives the substantive content of the CCR. This ensures procedural fairness and alignment between the infringement and revocation proceedings. Division Local Division…
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LD Munich, July 22, 2025, order on evidence preservation and inspection, UPC_CFI_63/2025
Deadline Length vs. Starting Point: The court clarified the distinction between a deadline’s length and starting point under Rule 198.1 RoP. While the length is prescribed, the court can determine the starting point, especially considering the expert report’s due date (Rule 196.4 RoP). Discretion to Change Starting Point: The court can adjust the starting point,…
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LD Paris, July 22, 2025, order on joinder of infringement actions, UPC_CFI_132/2025, UPC_CFI_130/2025
Joinder of Infringement Actions: Parallel infringement cases concerning the same patent and product were joined under Rule 302 RoP for efficient case management. Division Local Division Paris UPC number UPC_CFI_132/2025 UPC_CFI_130/2025 Type of proceedings Place type of proceedings Parties Place parties Patent(s) Place patent(s) Jurisdictions Place jurisdictions Body of legislation / Rules Rule 5 RoP,…
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CD Milan, July 22, 2025, decision by default on the revocation action, UPC_CFI_597/2024
Default Judgment on Revocation: Failure to comply with a court order (Rule 158 RoP) for security for costs can result in the dismissal of a revocation action by default (Rule 355.2 RoP), especially when the opposing party requests it. Non-compliance with a legally issued order and a request by a party are prerequisites for a…
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Court of Appeal, July 23, 2025, order on withdrawal of appeal, UPC_CoA_526/2025
Withdrawal of Appeal and Partial Reimbursement of Fees: The Court allowed the appellant to withdraw their appeal after an out-of-court settlement, as the respondent consented and had no further legitimate interest in the proceedings (R. 265 RoP). The appellant received a 60% reimbursement of appeal court fees, as the withdrawal occurred before the written proceedings…
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LD Munich, January 23, 2025, order regarding cost and confidentiality, UPC_CFI_815/2024
Restrictions on confidential information apply to third parties and the public: The Court referred to a previous order from the Central Division Paris in UPC_CFI_367/2023. It indicated that Meril would have unlimited access to the costs application, while restrictions on confidential information would apply to third parties and the public. Division Local Division Munich UPC…
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LD Mannheim, January 22, 2025, procedural order in infringement action, UPC_CFI_365/2023
Document submission one week before the hearing: The hearing dates are confirmed for three consecutive days, i.e., February 11-13, 2025. The Court provides remarks in preparation for the hearing and requests the upload of documents or sketches by February 4, 2025. The documents or sketches are those, which the parties may wish to refer to…
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LD Mannheim, July 3, 2024, Order re Protection of Confidential Information, UPC_CFI_471/2023
Access to unredacted documents is restricted to a limited group: Access to the unredacted version of the responses to the complaint is restricted on the plaintiffs’ side to the following persons: a) the plaintiffs’ legal representatives and their internal support staff, There is no reason to restrict access on the part of the plaintiffs’ authorised…
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LD Paris, July 4, 2024, Decision on the merits in an action for infringement with counterclaim for revocation, UPC_CFI_230/2023
The scope of the dispute brought before the Court is incontestably governed by the principle that the parties define the subject-matter of the dispute, a general principle of law which is reiterated in Art. 76(1) UPCA.: This principle allows the claimant in the main action to exclude certain acts of infringement in order to avoid…
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CD Paris, Preliminary objection of a revocation action, May 2, 2024, UPC_CFI-484/2023
The UPC has jurisdiction for the central revocation action even if a prior national revocation action is pending: The asserted patent is only validated in Germany. In 2021, Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG filed a national revocation action with the German Federal Patent Court (GFPC) against the proprietor (Mala Technologies), which was…
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Court of Appeal – Luxembourg (LU), May 2, 2024, Order re application for suspensive effect, UPC_CoA_177/2024
According to Article 74(1) UPCA, the appeal has no suspensive effect unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise at the motivated request of one of the parties. : The Court of Appeal can grant the application only if the circumstances of the case justify an exception to the principle that the appeal has no suspensive…
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LD Mannheim, April 30, 2024, Order re producing license agreements, UPC_CFI_ 218/2023, UPC_CFI_ 219/2023, UPC_CFI_ 223/2023,
Plaintiff in infringement proceedings can request an order, directed against themselves, to produce an SEP license agreement with a third party. In accordance with the principle of production of evidence (Art. 43 UPCA), the plaintiff must decide for themselves which submissions they wish to make in the proceedings.: In order to demonstrate that FRAND obligations…