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CC 17292/2024
Apr 2, 2024·EP3466498 +1 more: SEARCH DEVICE FOR AVALANCHE VICTIMS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SEARCH DEVICE FOR AVALANCHE VICTIMS
Parent infringement case:UPC CFI 16/2024
- Case details
- StatusCase ClosedActionCounterclaim for revocationCategoryCounter Claim for Revocation
- Parties
- ClaimantsReps: Miriam Kiefer (Kather Augenstein); Robert Knaps (Kather Augenstein); Michael Siebel (Hofstetter, Schurack & Partner)RespondentsReps: Oliver Jan Jüngst (Bird & Bird LLP); Moritz Schroeder (Bird & Bird LLP); Alexander Bothe (Bird & Bird LLP); Fabian Leimgruber (Thomann Fischer)
- Division
- Dusseldorf LD
- Technology
- Measurement & Instrumentation · Safety Sensors · Computing & AI
- Language
- German
- First decided
- Jan 14, 2025
Decisions
- 2025-01-14Permanent injunctionRevocation meritsCounterclaim for revocation
The Düsseldorf Local Division found that Mammut Sports Group AG and GmbH infringed EP 3 466 498 B1 (owned by Ortovox Sportartikel GmbH, relating to a transceiver device for avalanche rescue) and dismissed the counterclaim for revocation, maintaining the patent. The Court granted an injunction, ordered product recall and removal from distribution channels, ordered disclosure of information and accounting, and awarded EUR 3,000 in provisional damages. Indirect infringement was found because Mammut induced end-users to activate the infringing feature. The Court rejected the request for publication of the decision as Ortovox's interests were sufficiently protected by the injunction. 80% of infringement action costs borne by claimant (Ortovox) and 10% each by defendants; counterclaim costs borne equally by defendants.
Legal issues:Direct and indirect patent infringementActivation of patented features by end-usersNovelty and inventive step in counterclaim for revocationCorrective measures — destruction, recall, removal from channelsPublication of decision under Art. 80 UPCAProvisional damages awardDamages: 3,000
Documents
| Document title | Date | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome of the Order | 2025-01-27 | Not public |
| Berichtigungsanordnung | 2025-01-27 | Public |
| 250123 Stellungnahme re Berichtigungsantrag GGS | 2025-01-23 | Not public |
| Gelegenheit zur Stellungnahme | 2025-01-22 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2025-01-22 | Not public |
| 2025-01-21 Berichtigungsantrag Ortovox | 2025-01-21 | Not public |
| Headnote-and-Keywords | 2025-01-14 | Not public |
| DecisionOutcome | 2025-01-14 | Not public |
| Entscheidung | 2025-01-14 | Public |
| Platzhalter - Upload Recording | 2024-11-28 | Not public |
| Platzhalter - Upload Recording | 2024-11-28 | Not public |
| Interim-Procedure-Closure | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| Summon-Oral-Hearing | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| R. 108 VerfO - Erneuter Upload der Ladungsanordnung | 2024-11-22 | Public |
| Hearing-Dates | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| 2024-11-22 Stellungnahme Ortovox Zwischenverfahren_signed | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| 2024-11-22 Stellungnahme Ortovox Zwischenverfahren_signed | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| Signiert 241122 SS an UPC - 2379-2024.pdf | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| Anordnung im Zwischenverfahren | 2024-11-19 | Public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-11-08 | Not public |
| Order Zurückweisung des Antrags | 2024-11-08 | Public |
| Anlage KAP 24 - Teil 01 - DE | 2024-11-08 | Not public |
| 2024-11-08 Stellungnahme Ortovox_signed | 2024-11-08 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP 24 - Teil 02 - DE | 2024-11-08 | Not public |
| Anordnung Anhörung Klägerin | 2024-11-07 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2024-11-07 | Not public |
| 241106 Rop 9 Nichtigkeitswiderklage - 17292/2024 | 2024-11-06 | Not public |
| Abschluss des schriftlichen Verfahrens | 2024-10-28 | Public |
| Written-Procedure-Closure | 2024-10-28 | Not public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-10-01 | Not public |
| Schließung Workflow | 2024-10-01 | Public |
| 241001 Duplik Hilfsantraege | 2024-10-01 | Not public |
| BB18 | 2024-10-01 | Not public |
| Uploadmöglichkeit Duplik zum Änderungsantrag | 2024-09-13 | Not public |
| 2024-09-05 Replik Ortovox auf Erwiderung Hilfsantrag auf Aenderung des Patents_signed | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| 2024-09-05 Duplik Ortovox zur Replik auf die Erwiderung auf die Nichtigkeitswiderklage_signed | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP 20 - DE | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP 19 - DE | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| 2024-09-05 Duplik Ortovox zur Replik auf die Erwiderung auf die Nichtigkeitswiderklage_signed | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP 21 - EN | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP 18 - DE | 2024-09-05 | Not public |
| Panel-Appointment | 2024-09-04 | Not public |
| Hearing-Dates | 2024-09-03 | Not public |
| Ladung zur mündlichen Verhandlung (R. 108 VerfO) | 2024-09-03 | Public |
| Uploadmöglichkeit Replik zum Änderungsantrag | 2024-09-03 | Not public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-08-12 | Not public |
| Zurückweisung wiederholter Fristverlängerungsantrag | 2024-08-12 | Public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-08-12 | Not public |
| Zurückweisung wiederholter Fristverlängerungsantrag | 2024-08-12 | Public |
| Receipt | 2024-08-12 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2024-08-12 | Not public |
| 2024-08-09 Fristverlaengerungsantrag Ortovox | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| 2024-08-09 Fristverlaengerungsantrag Ortovox | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Hearing-Dates | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Bestimmung Termin zur mündlichen Verhandlung | 2024-08-09 | Public |
| Template-Order | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Hearing-Dates | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Zurückweisung Fristverlängerungsantrag | 2024-08-09 | Public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Zurückweisung Fristverlängerungsantrag | 2024-08-09 | Public |
| Receipt | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| 2024-08-09 Fristverlaengerungsantrag Ortovox | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| 2024-08-09 Fristverlaengerungsantrag Ortovox | 2024-08-09 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| 240805 Eriderung Änderung Patent | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| B17 | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| 240805 Replik an das UPC | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| BB16 | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| 240805 Replik an das UPC | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| Outcome of the Order | 2024-06-18 | Not public |
| Schließung Workflow | 2024-06-18 | Public |
| Template-Order | 2024-06-18 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 07a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 03 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 10 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 06a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 04 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 10a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 05a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 09a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 09 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 01a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 03a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 11a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 11 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 08a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 01 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 05 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 06 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 04a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 07 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 02a - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 02 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 08 - DE | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| 2024-06-03 Hilfsantraege Ortovox nach R.30.1 VerfO_signed | 2024-06-07 | Not public |
| 2024-06-04 Pre-Order | 2024-06-04 | Not public |
| 2024-06-04 Pre-Order | 2024-06-04 | Not public |
| Template-Order | 2024-06-04 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2024-06-04 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2024-06-04 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2024-06-04 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 07a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| 2024-06-03 Hilfsantraege Ortovox nach R.30.1 VerfO_signed | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 08 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 10a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 06 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 01a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 08a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 06a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 09a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 05 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 09 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 11a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 03a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 02 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 11 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 03 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 10 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 04a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 07 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 05a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 04 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 02a - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Anlage KAP HA 01 - DE | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| 2024-06-03 Erwiderung Ortovox auf Nichtigkeitswiderklage_signed | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| 2024-06-03 Erwiderung Ortovox auf Nichtigkeitswiderklage_signed | 2024-06-03 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement of access to case | 2024-04-16 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement of access to case | 2024-04-16 | Not public |
| Zustellung Widerklage | 2024-04-08 | Not public |
| Notification Of Service | 2024-04-08 | Not public |
| Notification Of Service | 2024-04-08 | Not public |
| Zustellung Widerklage | 2024-04-08 | Not public |
| epoUploadDocumentsWorkflow | 2024-04-08 | Not public |
| Document from EPO | 2024-04-08 | Not public |
| Letter for Service | 2024-04-04 | Not public |
| Letter for Service | 2024-04-04 | Not public |
| Panel-Appointment | 2024-04-04 | Not public |
| EPO-Request-for-case-pending | 2024-04-04 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-04-04 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2024-04-04 | Not public |
| Beilage 5 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 49 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 43 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 55 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB8 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB2 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB7 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-7 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 44 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 13 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 53 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 15 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB4 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 27 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-5 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 41 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 6 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 33 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 57 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
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| Beilage 42 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-10 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 40 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-13 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 21 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 50 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB13 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 34 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 58 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 19 - Teil 7 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 10 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 12 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 19 - Teil 3 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 1 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Überweisungsbeleg | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-4 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 35 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB5 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 19 - Teil 8 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 19 - Teil 5 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 26 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 52 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 17 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB14 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-14 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 4 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Anlage BB6 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 20 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| 240402 Nichtigkeitswiderklage | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 18-3 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 25 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
| Beilage 23 | 2024-04-02 | Not public |
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Plain-English summary
Ortovox Sportartikel GmbH obtained a judgment from the Düsseldorf Local Division finding that Mammut Sports Group AG and GmbH infringed EP 3 466 498 B1, a patent for an avalanche victim search transceiver device, through both direct and indirect infringement — the latter because Mammut guided users to activate the infringing search function in its products. The court dismissed Mammut's counterclaim for revocation, granted injunctive relief including recall and removal from commerce, ordered disclosure and accounting, and awarded EUR 3,000 in provisional damages, but declined to order publication of the judgment as unnecessary given the other remedies.
Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.
Direct and indirect infringement of EP 3 466 498 B1 by Mammut Sports Group AG and GmbH
ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 25 UPCA; Art. 26 UPCANote: The court found both direct infringement and, critically, indirect infringement because Mammut instructed end-users to activate the infringing feature (a search function in its avalanche transceiver) through product instructions, making Mammut responsible for users' activation.
Novelty and inventive step of EP 3 466 498 B1 upheld; counterclaim for revocation dismissed
ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 54 EPC; Art. 56 EPCNote: The Düsseldorf court dismissed Mammut's revocation counterclaim, maintaining the patent for an avalanche search device.
Software-based deactivation is not a sufficient alternative to physical destruction if the product could be re-enabled to an infringing state
ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 64 UPCANote: Court held that software deactivation is only acceptable if it ensures the product cannot be restored to an infringing configuration; absent such certainty, destruction is required.
Rejected arguments
What the court did not agree with — and why.
Publication of the judgment should be ordered
ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 80 UPCAReason: Court declined under Art. 80 UPCA because Ortovox's interests were already sufficiently protected by the injunction and other remedies granted; publication requires that the claimant's interest in publication outweighs the consequences for the defendant.
Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Indirect infringement arises where the infringer instructs or knowingly exploits the end-user's activation of an infringing featureDestruction required where software-based deactivation cannot guarantee the product cannot be restored to an infringing statePublication of judgment is discretionary (Art. 80 UPCA) and requires claimant's interest to outweigh consequences for defendant; not justified where other remedies already protect claimantProvisional damages may be awarded alongside a declaration of liability for further damages
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