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UPC CFI 182/2023

Jun 27, 2023·EP3398487: METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING MILK FOAM

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Provisional measures
Category
Provisional Measures
Parties
Claimants
Reps: Thomas Adocker (TaylorWessing e/n/w/c Natlacen Walderdorff Cancola Rechtsanwälte GmbH); Andreas Gehring (Puchberger & Partner Patentanwälte)
Respondents
Reps: Markus Gangl (Torggler & Hofmann Patentanwälte); Florian Robl (Torggler & Hofmann Patentanwälte)
Division
Vienna LD
Judges
Technology
Agriculture
Language
German
First decided
Sep 13, 2023
Decisions
  • 2023-09-13
    PI deniedPreliminary injunctionApplication for provisional measures

    The Vienna Local Division denied CUP&CINO's application for provisional measures against ALPINA COFFEE SYSTEMS GmbH (EP 3 398 487 B1 — milk foam device), finding no patent infringement because the attacked product did not implement the claimed pipe section feature, and ordering CUP&CINO to pay EUR 25,600 in final costs.

    Legal issues:Provisional measures Art. 62 UPCAClaim scope interpretation Art. 69 EPCOpt-out and effect of PI applicationNon-infringement findingCosts after dismissed PI
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
action.publishOrderDecision.case2026-01-08Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-10-10Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-10-10Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-10-10Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-10-10Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-10-10Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-10-10Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-10-10Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-10-10Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-10-10Not public
Dokument zum schließen des CMS Workflows2023-10-10Not public
Measures_DecisionOutcome_Notification.pdf2023-10-10Not public
Entscheidung über den Antrag auf einstweilige Maßnahmen2023-10-10Public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-10-10Not public
Keine echte Eingabe2023-10-10Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-10-10Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-10-09Not public
Endentscheidung2023-10-04Not public
Endentscheidung2023-10-03Not public
Decision local division Vienna Case Nr. 528738-20232023-10-03Not public
Decision local division Vienna Case Nr. 528738-20232023-10-03Not public
Endentscheidung (ORD_545732_2023)2023-10-03Not public
Hearing-Dates2023-10-02Not public
Receipt2023-09-25Not public
Application2023-09-23Not public
Leistungsaufstellung2023-09-23Not public
528738-2023-Record of Hearing2023-09-21Not public
528738-2023-Record of Hearing2023-09-21Not public
Receipt2023-09-20Not public
Exhibit K2023-09-20Not public
Exhibit L2023-09-20Not public
Urkundenvorlage2023-09-20Not public
528738-2023-OH-VIE-LOC-UPC202309139am2023-09-20Not public
528738-2023-OH-VIE-LOC-UPC202309139am2023-09-20Not public
Hearing-Dates2023-09-01Not public
Verhandlung2023-09-01Not public
Dokument erzeugt um CMS Workflow zu beenden2023-09-01Not public
Template-Order2023-09-01Not public
Exhibit I Application under Rule 5A2023-08-24Not public
Exhibit J - affidavit Frank Epping2023-08-24Not public
Reply2023-08-24Not public
Receipt2023-08-16Not public
Antrag auf Nachreichung von Unterlagen2023-08-14Not public
Video Beilage 112023-08-14Not public
Video Beilage 122023-08-14Not public
Beilage 22023-08-01Not public
Beilage 32023-08-01Not public
Beilage 62023-08-01Not public
Beilage 92023-08-01Not public
Einspruch gegen einstweilige Maßnahmen signiert2023-08-01Not public
Beilage 82023-08-01Not public
Beilage 42023-08-01Not public
Beilage 72023-08-01Not public
Beilage 12023-08-01Not public
Einspruch gegen einstweilige Maßnahmen2023-08-01Not public
Beilage 102023-08-01Not public
Beilage 52023-08-01Not public
Verfahrensanordnung2023-08-01Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2023-07-25Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2023-07-11Not public
Notification Of Service2023-07-11Not public
Rückschein Zustellung2023-07-11Not public
Postrechnung Zustellung2023-07-11Not public
Hearing-Dates2023-07-06Not public
Verfahrensanordnung2023-07-06Not public
Letter for Service2023-06-29Not public
Panel-Appointment2023-06-29Not public
Application-For-Measures-Receipt2023-06-27Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2023-06-27Not public
Application-For-Measures-Acknowledgement2023-06-27Not public
Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
Beilage B2023-06-27Not public
Anlage 14 zu Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
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Beilage H2023-06-27Not public
Anlage 17 zu Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
Antrag auf Erlassung einstweiliger Maßnahmen2023-06-27Not public
Anlage 21 zu Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
Anlage 3 zu Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
Anlage 4 zu Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
Anlage 19 zu Beilage A2023-06-27Not public
Beilage G2023-06-27Not public
Plain-English summary

CUP&CINO applied for provisional measures against Alpina Coffee Systems for alleged infringement of EP 3398487 B1 (a milk foam device with a pipe section of defined minimum length) before the Vienna Local Division. The court denied the provisional measures because the accused product's pipe section measured approximately 10 cm — far below the 0.5 m minimum required by claim 2 — meaning no infringement was established. CUP&CINO was ordered to pay EUR 25,600 in final costs, as the court ruled these costs cannot be revisited in any subsequent main proceedings.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Attacked product does not implement the claimed pipe section (Leitungsabschnitt) feature of EP 3398487 claim 2

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC and Protocol; Art. 24(1)(c) UPCA

    Note: Vienna Local Division found the knee connector and coupling piece in the respondent's product had a combined length of approximately 10 cm, far below the 0.5 m minimum required by the patent claim; no infringement established.

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

  • Alpina Coffee's milk foam device infringes EP 3398487 claim 2

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC; Art. 24(1)(c) UPCA

    Reason: The attacked product's pipe section did not meet the length requirements of the claim even on the most generous interpretation; claim feature (i) was not realised.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Provisional measures application constitutes a blocking event making any prior opt-out under Rule 5 RoP ineffectiveScope of protection under Art. 69(1) EPC and Protocol applies to provisional measures proceedings as to main actionsFinal costs may be awarded to the successful respondent in provisional measures proceedings; such costs cannot be reopened in subsequent main proceedingsClaim construction requires identifying technical meaning of terms in context of the claim as a whole

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

The Vienna Local Division construed the 'pipe section' (Leitungsabschnitt) feature of claim 2 of EP 3398487 (milk foam device). The court found that the claim required a minimum pipe section length of 0.5 m; the attacked product's combined knee connector and coupling part measured only approximately 10 cm, failing to meet this requirement. The court declined to find infringement even considering a broader purposive construction.