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UPC CFI 151/2024

Apr 18, 2024·EP1944067 · Method and system for detecting an offside situation

Action number: ACT 16267/2024

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Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Provisional measures
Category
Provisional measures
Parties
Claimants
Representatives
Respondents
Representatives
Division
Hamburg LD
Judges
Technology
  • Other fields
    Consumer products
Language
English
First decided
Jun 3, 2024
Last decision
Aug 14, 2025
How this compares
The court's record for this kind of case, counted in first-instance rulings. A figure in brackets is the number of rulings a rate rests on.
Preliminary injunction grantedMedian days to first decision
All UPC54% (38/70)124
Hamburg LDLockedLocked
Judge Sabine KlepschLockedLocked
Judge Stefan SchillingLockedLocked
Judge Samuel GranataLockedLocked

At the UPC: Ballinno B.V. (9 cases)·Union des Associations Européennes de Football (UEFA) (4 cases)

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Related cases
All proceedings on this patent

This dispute contains 8 other proceedings

UPC CFI 484/2025·UPC APP 44034/2024·UPC CoA 328/2024·UPC CFI 230/2024·UPC APP 23209/2024 and 3 more

Start a free trial to see how each one ended.

More cases: Hamburg LD·2024

Decisions
  • 2025-08-14
    Public

    Summary: Hamburg Local Division (14 August 2025) ordered that the EUR 56,000 security for procedural costs provided by Ballinno B.V. be released to the defendants (Kinexon companies), constituting a partial settlement of the pending costs application, and declared the costs application (App_44034/2024) closed.

    Show the legal issues (3)
    • Security for procedural costs (R. 158 RoP)
    • Settlement of costs application (R. 265 RoP analogy)
    • Release of security deposit
  • 2024-06-03
    Application for provisional measuresPublic

    Summary: Hamburg Local Division dismissed Ballinno B.V.'s application for provisional measures (preliminary injunction) against UEFA, Kinexon GmbH and Kinexon Sports & Media GmbH in connection with EP 1 944 067 (method for detecting offside situations in football). The application was dismissed on urgency grounds: Ballinno had waited almost three months after acquiring knowledge of the alleged infringement before taking decisive investigative steps, which was incompatible with the urgency requirement under Art. 62(2) UPCA. Ballinno was ordered to pay costs including those of the protective letter.

    Show the legal issues (4)
    • Urgency requirement for provisional measures under Art. 62(2) UPCA and Rule 209(2)(b) RoP
    • Degree of certainty of infringement under Art. 62(4) UPCA
    • VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology
    • Costs of protective letter
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Case Closure Formal Check2025-08-15Not public
Release of security2025-08-15Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2025-08-14Not public
Release of security2025-08-14Not public
Release of security2025-08-14Public
Outcome of the Order2024-11-19Not public
Close workflow2024-11-19Public
Outcome of the Order2024-09-17Not public
Close workflow2024-09-17Public
Outcome of the Order2024-09-17Not public
Confidentiality order2024-09-17Public
Receipt2024-08-14Not public
Receipt2024-08-14Not public
Request according to R. 9.1 RoP2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP10 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP01 - confidential - part 32024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP08 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 32024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP09 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP10 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP08 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 22024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP01 - confidential - part 12024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP01 - confidential - part 32024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 42024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 42024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP01 - confidential - part 22024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 32024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 22024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP07 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP05 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP11 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP04 - confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP01 - confidential - part 12024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 12024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP02 - confidential2024-07-16Not public
Rule 9 Request2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP09 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP02 - confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP07 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP06 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP03 - confidential - part 12024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP11 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP05 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP01 - confidential - part 22024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP06 - Confidential2024-07-16Not public
Exhibit BP04 - confidential2024-07-16Not public
Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated2024-07-05Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-07-04Not public
Final Order anonym2024-07-03Not public
Measures_DecisionOutcome_Notification.pdf2024-07-03Not public
Final Order2024-07-03Not public
Final Order2024-07-03Public
Oral hearing recording2024-07-03Not public
Oral hearing recording2024-07-03Not public
Order with grounds (ORD_33151_2024)2024-06-28Not public
Final Order without grounds2024-06-03Public
Oral Hearing 03.06.20242024-06-03Not public
Oral Hearing 03.06.20242024-06-03Not public
Receipt2024-05-30Not public
Exhibit VB40.22024-05-30Not public
Rule 9 submission2024-05-30Not public
Exhibit VB40.12024-05-30Not public
Exhibit VB392024-05-30Not public
Acknowledgement-of-change-of-a-representative2024-05-27Not public
Application-RoP293-Receipt2024-05-27Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-05-27Not public
Acknowledgement-of-change-of-a-representative2024-05-27Not public
Application-RoP293-Receipt2024-05-27Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-05-27Not public
Acknowledgement-of-change-of-a-representative2024-05-27Not public
Application-RoP293-Receipt2024-05-27Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-05-27Not public
summons2024-05-27Not public
Procedural Order2024-05-27Public
Closing written procedure2024-05-27Public
Outcome of the Order2024-05-27Not public
Procedural Order2024-05-27Public
Receipt2024-05-24Not public
Request to allow the attendance of the oral hearing by videoconference2024-05-23Not public
Request to allow the attendance of the oral hearing by videoconference2024-05-23Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 72024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB352024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB372024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB382024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 22024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 62024-05-22Not public
Reply persuant to RoP2642024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 52024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 32024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 12024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 42024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB362024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 82024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 72024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 42024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 52024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 62024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 82024-05-22Not public
Reply persuant to RoP2642024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB352024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB382024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB372024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB362024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 32024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 22024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 12024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 62024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 82024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 72024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB362024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 32024-05-22Not public
Reply persuant to RoP2642024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB352024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 22024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB372024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 42024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 12024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB35 Annex 52024-05-22Not public
Exhibit VB382024-05-22Not public
Exhibit BP022024-05-21Not public
Additional brief2024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-D062024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-BP022024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP032024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP042024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-BP032024-05-21Not public
Additional brief2024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP022024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-BP022024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-D062024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP032024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-BP032024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP042024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP042024-05-21Not public
Additional brief2024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-BP032024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP032024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-BP022024-05-21Not public
Exhibit BP022024-05-21Not public
Exhibit CR-D062024-05-21Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-05-16Not public
Security order2024-05-16Not public
Security order2024-05-16Not public
Security order2024-05-16Not public
Application-RoP2932024-05-16Not public
Application-RoP2932024-05-16Not public
Application-RoP2932024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_Sport_Media_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_Sport_Media_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_Sport_Media_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_Sport_Media_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_Sport_Media_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_Sport_Media_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_Kinexon_GmbH2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Application_to_Change_Representative_UEFA_et_al_dd_May_15_2024_signed2024-05-16Not public
Exhibit_BP1_UEFA2024-05-16Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-05-15Not public
order2024-05-15Not public
order2024-05-15Public
Outcome of the Order2024-05-15Not public
order2024-05-15Public
order2024-05-15Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-05-15Not public
Security order2024-05-15Not public
Security order2024-05-15Public
Hearing-Dates2024-05-13Not public
Summon oral hearing2024-05-13Public
Reply to Protective Letter etc2024-05-08Not public
Reply to Protective Letter etc.2024-05-08Not public
Reply to protective letter etc2024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB27.42024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB27.22024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB282024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB302024-05-08Not public
Reply to protective letter etc.2024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB322024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB262024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB332024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB292024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB242024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB312024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB252024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB27.32024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB342024-05-08Not public
Exhibit VB27.12024-05-08Not public
BB132024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex22024-05-08Not public
BB172024-05-08Not public
BB102024-05-08Not public
BB152024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex62024-05-08Not public
BB142024-05-08Not public
BB112024-05-08Not public
BB122024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex32024-05-08Not public
BB092024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex52024-05-08Not public
Objection to Application for provisional measures (Kinexon Sports & Media GmbH))2024-05-08Not public
BB162024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex12024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex42024-05-08Not public
BB162024-05-08Not public
BB172024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex32024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex52024-05-08Not public
BB122024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex42024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex12024-05-08Not public
BB092024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex62024-05-08Not public
BB102024-05-08Not public
BB112024-05-08Not public
BB152024-05-08Not public
BB142024-05-08Not public
BB132024-05-08Not public
BB11_Annex22024-05-08Not public
Objection to Application for provisional measures (Kinexon GmbH)2024-05-08Not public
Objection to Application for provisional measures2024-05-08Not public
BB172024-05-08Not public
Order to hear parties2024-04-29Not public
Order to hear parties2024-04-29Not public
Order to hear parties2024-04-29Not public
Receipt2024-04-29Not public
Receipt2024-04-29Not public
Receipt2024-04-29Not public
Application2024-04-26Not public
Application2024-04-26Not public
Application2024-04-26Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-04-26Not public
Extension time limits2024-04-26Public
Panel-Appointment2024-04-26Not public
Receipt2024-04-26Not public
Request for extension of time periods2024-04-25Not public
Order to hear parties2024-04-25Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2024-04-24Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2024-04-24Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2024-04-24Not public
Confirmation of notification of appointment2024-04-24Not public
Confirmation of receipt2024-04-24Not public
Confirmation of notification of appointment2024-04-24Not public
Confirmation of receipt2024-04-24Not public
Confirmation of notification of appointment2024-04-24Not public
Confirmation of receipt2024-04-24Not public
Letter for Service2024-04-23Not public
Letter for Service2024-04-23Not public
Letter for Service2024-04-23Not public
Empty document2024-04-23Not public
Order to hear parties2024-04-23Public
Template-Order2024-04-23Not public
Empty document2024-04-23Not public
Order to hear parties2024-04-22Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-04-19Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-04-19Not public
Application-For-Measures-Receipt2024-04-19Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-04-19Not public
Application-For-Measures-Acknowledgement2024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.62024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB01.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB192024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 142024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 17.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB132024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 102024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB212024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB032024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.32024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB052024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB022024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB092024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 1 - Rossing - Handbook of acoustics2024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 202024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 62024-04-18Not public
Application for provisional measures2024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 16.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 32024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB072024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB082024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 92024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB142024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB222024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB01.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB232024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB122024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 16.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 132024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB112024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 192024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB172024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 182024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 11.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 152024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 11.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 21.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.42024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 242024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB152024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 12.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 232024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB202024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 12.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 252024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 72024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 22.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 42024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB042024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB162024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 82024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.72024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 22.12024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB182024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 262024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB10.52024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 52024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 17.22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB062024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 22024-04-18Not public
Exhibit VB21 Annex 21.12024-04-18Not public
Plain-English summary

Ballinno B.V. applied for a preliminary injunction before the Hamburg Local Division against UEFA, Kinexon GmbH, and Kinexon Sports & Media GmbH concerning EP 1 944 067 (a method for detecting offside situations in football using ball-contact sensing). The application was dismissed primarily on urgency grounds — Ballinno waited nearly three months after learning of the alleged infringement before taking decisive investigative steps. On the merits, the court also found no credible infringement: the defendants' Connected Ball Technology uses SVM-processed accelerometer data, not sound-signal sensing and comparison as claimed, and acceleration measurement was not established as an equivalent.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Application dismissed for lack of urgency — applicant waited almost three months after acquiring knowledge of alleged infringement before taking decisive investigative steps

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 62(2) UPCA; Rule 209(2)(b) RoP; Rule 211(3) RoP

    Note: Hamburg LD confirmed that once a patent proprietor has knowledge of alleged infringement, it must investigate promptly; a delay of nearly three months without significant clarification efforts is incompatible with urgency.

  • Connected Ball Technology uses accelerometer-based SVM processing, not sound-signal sensing and comparison as claimed

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 62(4) UPCA; Rule 211.2 RoP

    Note: Court found it could not conclude that the attacked embodiment compares sensed signals to training data of predetermined signals as claimed; SVM does not contain training data, and accelerometer data is fundamentally different from sound signals.

  • Acceleration measurement is not an equivalent to sensing a sound signal produced by the ball

    Respondent

    Note: Description at [0037] discloses acceleration as an additional measurement, not an equivalent alternative to sound sensing; the patent does not teach substituting acceleration for sound.

Rejected arguments
What the court did not agree with — and why.

  • Connected Ball Technology infringes the patent by using sensor data to determine ball contact

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 62(4) UPCA

    Reason: Claimant could not prove the embodiment processes sound signals or compares them to predetermined sound signals; the SVM uses accelerometer data, not sound signals, and does not retain training data for comparison.

  • Infringement by equivalents — accelerometer processing equivalent to sound-signal comparison

    Claimant

    Reason: For equivalence, what matters is how the technical effect is achieved, not merely that an effect (determining ball contact) is produced; acceleration data processing in a SVM is not equivalent to comparing sound signals to predetermined sound signals.

  • Auxiliary requests based on amended claims (adding acceleration sensing) establish infringement

    Claimant

    Reason: The auxiliary feature requiring acceleration sensing (1.2a/8.2a) uses the word 'additionally', meaning both sound and acceleration sensors are needed; the attacked embodiment has only an accelerometer, not a separate sound sensor.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Urgency for PI requires prompt investigation upon knowledge of infringementThree-month delay without significant clarification steps defeats urgencyDoctrine of equivalents: assessment focuses on how the technical effect is achieved, not merely that an effect is producedDescription passage identifying acceleration as 'additional' to sound sensing precludes treating acceleration as an equivalent alternativeCosts of protective letter are 'other costs' of proceedings under Art. 69(1) UPCA

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

Claim 1 requires sensing a sound signal produced by the ball and comparing it to predetermined sound signals. The description at [0037] states acceleration measurement 'may be used additionally' — this makes acceleration supplementary, not an alternative to sound sensing. Auxiliary claims adding an 'acceleration signal additionally sensed' (features 1.2a/8.2a) require both a sound sensing means and an acceleration sensing means; the defendant's product, which uses only an accelerometer, does not satisfy this construction.