by Hetti Hilge
The Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf has set up a second Senate (panel of judges) that is specifically competent for patent infringement litigation. The Higher Regional Court is the appeal instance for first instance judgments of the Regional Court Düsseldorf in patent cases.
Already at the beginning of 2013, a third civil chamber that is specifically competent for patent infringement cases has been set up at the District Court Düsseldorf as a result of the increasing number of patent infringement complaints at this venue (see our previous post on the announcement). With about 600 cases per year, the District Court of Düsseldorf is the most popular court for patent infringement litigation in Germany and Europe.
By further staffing up the appeal instance, the land North Rhine-Westphalia consequently continues its strategy to strengthen Düsseldorf as a venue for patent litigation. It further positions itself in the nationwide competition for one of the German places for a local division of the future Unified Patent Court (UPC).
Presiding Judge of the second Patent Senate at the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf is Judge Ulrike Voß who has previously presided over one of the three patent chambers at the District Court Düsseldorf in the first instance. As does the Presiding Judge at the other Patent Senate at the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf, Judge Dr. Thomas Kühnen, Judge Voß has an excellent international reputation as a patent law expert.
The specialization of the judges in patent matters in Düsseldorf traditionally contributes to the high quality of the jurisdiction. With the additional chamber and senate at the first and second instance courts, the proceedings have become significantly faster again.
Hetti Hilge
rospatt osten pross – Intellectual Property Rechtsanwälte
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