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UPC CFI 308/2023

12. Sept. 2023·EP3456214 · VAPORIZER

Verfahrensdetails
Status
Case Closed (Patent nichtig)
Verfahrensart
Nichtigkeit
Kategorie
Hauptnichtigkeitsklage
Parteien
Kläger
Vertreter
Beklagte
Vertreter
Division
Paris CD
Technologie
  • Electrical engineering
    Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • Instruments
    Medical technology
  • Other fields
    Other consumer goods
Sprache
English
Erste Entscheidung
22. Jan. 2024
EPA-Einspruch
  • Nicoventures Holdings Limited2021-08-18
Im Vergleich
Die Bilanz des Gerichts für diese Art von Verfahren, gezählt in erstinstanzlichen Entscheidungen. Eine Zahl in Klammern gibt an, auf wie vielen Entscheidungen eine Quote beruht.
Patent nichtigMedian Tage bis zur ersten Entscheidung
Gesamt-UPC37% (34/91)124
Paris CDGesperrtGesperrt
Richter Paolo CatallozziGesperrtGesperrt
Richter Tatyana ZhilovaGesperrtGesperrt
Richter Max TilmannGesperrtGesperrt

Vor dem UPC: Altria Group (45 Verfahren)·VMR Products LLC (13 Verfahren)

Entscheidungen
  • 2024-11-27
    Revocation ActionÖffentlich

    Zusammenfassung: The Central Division Paris revoked European patent EP 3 456 214 (relating to a vaporizer/e-cigarette device) in its entirety. The patent was found to lack inventive step over the prior art. All auxiliary requests for partial maintenance were rejected as either unsubstantiated or unreasonable in number. The defendant (patent proprietor VMR Products LLC) was ordered to bear the litigation costs.

    Rechtsfragen anzeigen (5)
    • Front-loaded procedure and admission of new evidence in revocation
    • Claim interpretation and common general knowledge
    • Inventive step assessment
    • Admission of new invalidity grounds
    • Reasonableness of number of auxiliary requests under Rule 30(1)(c) RoP
  • 2024-01-22
    Revocation ActionÖffentlich

    Zusammenfassung: The Paris Central Division issued a procedural order in the NJOY v. VMR Products revocation action, ruling on the date of service of VMR's defence to revocation, determining that service was effected on 13 December 2023 when the Registry notified the corrected defence to NJOY.

    Rechtsfragen anzeigen (2)
    • Date of service of defence to revocation
    • Rule 9 RoP: court declaration on procedural time limits
DokumenttitelDatumÖffentlich
Receipt2026-01-29Nicht öffentlich
Cover sheet2026-01-29Nicht öffentlich
Application document Applicant2026-01-29Nicht öffentlich
Decision anonymized - 27.11.20242024-11-28Nicht öffentlich
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-11-27Nicht öffentlich
DecisionOutcome2024-11-27Nicht öffentlich
decision2024-11-27Öffentlich
decision2024-11-27Nicht öffentlich
Confirmation of appointment - audio record2024-11-04Nicht öffentlich
Outcome of the Order2024-11-04Nicht öffentlich
Abdeckung: Teilweise.Begründung teilweise extrahiert — einige Abschnitte können unvollständig sein.
Zusammenfassung in einfacher Sprache

NJOY Netherlands brought a revocation action against VMR Products' EP 3 456 214 (a vaporizer/e-cigarette device patent) before the Paris Central Division. The court found the entire patent invalid for lack of inventive step over 'Pan' and related prior art, rejected all auxiliary requests as either unsubstantiated or unreasonable in number, and revoked the patent in its entirety across all Contracting Member States. VMR Products was ordered to bear the litigation costs.

Angenommene Argumente
Was das Gericht akzeptiert hat — nach Partei.
  • EP 3 456 214 lacks inventive step over the prior art

    KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC; Art. 138(1)(a) EPC

    Hinweis: The Central Division Paris found all claims (including those in auxiliary requests) obvious over 'Pan' and other prior art; the patent was revoked in its entirety.

  • New invalidity grounds and new novelty-destroying documents may not be introduced in subsequent written acts beyond the Statement of Revocation

    KlägerRechtsgrundlage: R. 30(1) RoP; front-loaded procedure principles

    Hinweis: This procedural headnote limits the defendant's ability to introduce new prior art after the initial pleading phase.

Zurückgewiesene Argumente
Was das Gericht nicht akzeptiert hat — und warum.
  • Patent valid: claim 1 and all dependent claims are not obvious

    BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC

    Begründung: All claims found obvious; dependent claims 13 and 14 were also anticipated or obvious over 'Pan'.

  • Partial maintenance: patent should be maintained to the extent of one or more dependent claims in combination with claim 1 of proposed amendments

    BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 65(3) UPCA; R.30(1)(c) RoP; R.50(2) RoP

    Begründung: Request was not substantiated (no explanation why particular combinations would support validity) and was unreasonable in number under R.30(1)(c) and R.50(2) RoP.

Herangezogener Stand der Technik
Zitierte Schriften und die Rolle, die sie gespielt haben.
  • Pan (prior art document — vaporizer/e-cigarette with airflow sensor and liquid)Neuheitsschädlich