UPC CFI 308/2023
12. Sept. 2023·EP3456214 · VAPORIZER
- Verfahrensdetails
- StatusCase Closed (Patent nichtig)VerfahrensartNichtigkeitKategorieHauptnichtigkeitsklage
- Parteien
- Beklagte
- VMR Products LLCUnternehmen
Vertreter- Bernhard Thum-Thum & Partner
- Jonas Weickertmitwirkend-Thum & Partner
- Andreas Mötschmitwirkend-Thum & Partner
- Tobias Wuttke-Bardehle Pagenberg
- Division
- Paris CD
- Technologie
- Electrical engineeringElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- InstrumentsMedical technology
- Other fieldsOther consumer goods
- Sprache
- English
- Erste Entscheidung
- 22. Jan. 2024
- EPA-Einspruch
- Nicoventures Holdings Limited2021-08-18
| Patent nichtig | Median Tage bis zur ersten Entscheidung | |
|---|---|---|
| Gesamt-UPC | 37% (34/91) | 124 |
| Paris CD | Gesperrt | Gesperrt |
| Richter Paolo Catallozzi | Gesperrt | Gesperrt |
| Richter Tatyana Zhilova | Gesperrt | Gesperrt |
| Richter Max Tilmann | Gesperrt | Gesperrt |
Vor dem UPC: Altria Group (45 Verfahren)·VMR Products LLC (13 Verfahren)
Dieser Streit umfasst 12 weitere Verfahren
UPC CFI 313/2026·UPC CoA 257/2025·UPC CFI 167/2025·UPC CFI 164/2025·UPC CoA 71/2025 und 7 weitere
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- 2024-11-27Revocation 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
- 2024-01-22Revocation 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
| Dokumenttitel | Datum | Öffentlich |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt | 2026-01-29 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Cover sheet | 2026-01-29 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Application document Applicant | 2026-01-29 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Decision anonymized - 27.11.2024 | 2024-11-28 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Headnote-and-Keywords | 2024-11-27 | Nicht öffentlich |
| DecisionOutcome | 2024-11-27 | Nicht öffentlich |
| decision | 2024-11-27 | Öffentlich |
| decision | 2024-11-27 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Confirmation of appointment - audio record | 2024-11-04 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-11-04 | Nicht öffentlich |
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.
EP 3 456 214 lacks inventive step over the prior art
KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC; Art. 138(1)(a) EPCHinweis: 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 principlesHinweis: This procedural headnote limits the defendant's ability to introduce new prior art after the initial pleading phase.
Patent valid: claim 1 and all dependent claims are not obvious
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPCBegründung: 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) RoPBegründung: 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.
Weitere Fälle zu diesem Grundsatz ansehen.
- Pan (prior art document — vaporizer/e-cigarette with airflow sensor and liquid)Neuheitsschädlich