A famous joke that must now be over 30 years old quips about the strength of the (German) patent attorney profession: „If all German patent attorneys and their families decide to settle in a single place, they would not even win the communal elections in Miesbach.“ Miesbach is a small town in pretty Upper Bavaria,…
In another standard essential patents (SEPs) case from the Unified Patent Court (UPC), on 18 December 2024 the Munich Local Division (LD) issued an injunction in favour of Huawei (UPC_CFI_9/2023, available in German here). The order prohibited Netgear from selling Wi-Fi 6 routers in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Finland, France, and Sweden. Netgear is also required…
The first decisions by the Central Division Munich, the Local Division Paris and the Local Division Düsseldorf adjudging a patent’s validity in main proceedings are now out. Taken together, they confirm the initial favourable impression from applications for provisional measures and demonstrate that this Court is fully up to task. As regards validity, it…
The Unified Patent Court has refused to grant 10x Genomics a second preliminary injunction against rival NanoString, as it was not convinced of the infringement of 10x’s patent. The case concerned European Patent 2 794 928 B1 (EP 928 patent). In a reaction to the decision, 10x Genomics pointed out: ‘the injunctions granted by the…
The start of the Unified Patent Court is a very special time for patent enthusiasts in Europe. Johanna Flythström, a Helsinki-based partner of law firm Roschier has said this in a podcast interview on the occasion of the launch of the new UPC Case Law Tracker from Wolters Kluwer. “There was a lot of anticipation building…
The Helsinki division of the Unified Patent Court rejected an injunction request by AIM Sport against Supponor, because the reversal of the opt-out of the patent in dispute was deemed in contradiction with the UPCA. Article 83 (4) of the Unified Patent Court Agreement reads: ‘Unless an action has already been brought before a national…
UPDATE: The Unified Patent Court granted US biotech company 10x Genomics a preliminary injunction against rival NanoString. It was the UPC’s first PI in a case were an oral hearing was held with both parties. NanoString has announced it will appeal the order in the UPC Court of Appeal in Luxembourg. Earlier, an ex parte PI…
The level of transparency at the Unified Patent Court is far below what would normally be considered acceptable in civil court proceedings in most of the EU member states, says UK, Dutch and European patent attorney Joeri Beetz of law firm Keltie. He decided to build a UPC search site himself. Kluwer IP Law interviewed…
The first two substantive public hearings of the Unified Patent Court will be held next month at the local division in Munich about applications for provisional measures. The hearings, on 5 (and if necessary 6) September and 19 September 2023, concern applications for preliminary injunctions in infringement cases brought by 10x Genomics against Nanostring Technologies….
Since the start of June 2023, 21 new technically qualified judges have been appointed to the Unified Patent Court and more will follow later this year. According to a UPC announcement, candidates will be contacted for interviews in the upcoming weeks. Before taking up their duties, the newly appointed judges take an oath in open…
