UPC CFI 310/2023
12. Sept. 2023·EP3613453 · VAPORIZER
- Verfahrensdetails
- StatusCase Closed (Patent teilweise nichtig)VerfahrensartNichtigkeitKategorieHauptnichtigkeitsklage
- Parteien
- Kläger
- NJOY Netherlands B.V.Unternehmen
Vertreter- Henrik Holzapfel-McDermott Will & Schulte
- Laura Wollmitwirkend-McDermott Will & Schulte
- Diana Pisanimitwirkend-McDermott Will & Schulte
- Lisa Nassimitwirkend-McDermott Will & Schulte
- Mathias Karlhuber-Cohausz & Florack
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. 2025
- EPA-Einspruch
- Nicoventures Trading LimitedZulässig2022-06-08
- Philip Morris Products S.A.Zulässig2022-06-08
| 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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- 2025-01-22Revocation ActionÖffentlich
Zusammenfassung: The Paris Central Division partially revoked EP 3 613 453 B1, finding that claim 1 lacked inventive step; the patent was maintained in amended form based on the independent validity of claims 6, 7 and 8 in combination with claim 1 as granted. Each party bore its own costs.
Rechtsfragen anzeigen (5)
- Inventive step
- Common general knowledge
- Late filed documents
- Validity of dependent claims
- Auxiliary requests
| Dokumenttitel | Datum | Öffentlich |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt | 2026-02-09 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Cover sheet | 2026-02-09 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Application document Applicant | 2026-02-09 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Outcome of the Order | 2025-03-28 | Nicht öffentlich |
| procedural order | 2025-03-28 | Öffentlich |
| Decision anonymized - 571730 - 22.01.2025 | 2025-01-22 | Nicht öffentlich |
| DecisionOutcome | 2025-01-22 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Decision | 2025-01-22 | Nicht öffentlich |
| Decision | 2025-01-22 | Öffentlich |
| Template-Order | 2025-01-22 | Nicht öffentlich |
NJOY Netherlands challenged VMR Products' EP 3 613 453 (vaporizer/e-cigarette device) before the Paris Central Division. The court found claim 1 and dependent claims 2-5 invalid for lack of inventive step over prior art (Pan, Cross, Griffith and common general knowledge), but maintained the patent in part based on the independent inventive step of dependent claims 6, 7, and 8 in combination with claim 1 as granted. Each party bore its own costs given partial success on each side.
Claim 1 of EP 3 613 453 lacks inventive step over prior art
KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPC; Art. 138(1)(a) EPCHinweis: The Paris Central Division found claim 1 obvious; dependent claims 2-5 also independently lacked inventive step.
Dependent claims 6, 7 and 8 individually possess inventive step and can acquire independent validity in combination with claim 1 as granted
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 65(3) UPCAHinweis: The court upheld the patent in part based on these claims, even though claim 1 was invalid.
Defendant's alternative request to maintain the patent with respect to one or more dependent claims is a sufficiently clear request even if no specific claim combination is specified, and requires the court to examine which claims remain valid
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 65(3) UPCA; R.30(1)(c) RoPHinweis: This headnote principle required the court to conduct a full dependent-claim analysis.
Patent should be maintained as granted (claim 1 valid)
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPCBegründung: Claim 1 found to lack inventive step; the prior art document 'Pan' or 'Cross' in combination with 'Griffith' or common general knowledge rendered claim 1 obvious.
Auxiliary requests to amend the patent overcome invalidity of claim 1
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPCBegründung: The auxiliary requests did not overcome the invalidity of claim 1.
Dependent claims 2, 3, 4 and 5 have independent validity
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 56 EPCBegründung: These claims also independently lacked inventive step.
Weitere Fälle zu diesem Grundsatz ansehen.
- Pan (prior art document — e-cigarette/vaporizer with airflow sensor activation)Erfindungsmüh-Kombination
- Cross (prior art document — vaporizer device with microcontroller and user activation switch)Erfindungsmüh-Kombination
- Griffith (prior art document — electronic smoking device with pushbutton activation)Erfindungsmüh-Kombination