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UPC CFI 252/2023

Jul 27, 2023·EP2794928 · COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ANALYTE DETECTION

Action number: ACT 551180/2023

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Case details
Status
Case Closed (Patent revoked)
Action
Revocation
Category
Main revocation action
Parties
Claimants
Representatives
Respondents
Representatives
Division
Munich CD
Judges
Technology
  • Instruments
    Analysis of biological materials
  • Chemistry
    Biotechnology
Language
English
First decided
Oct 4, 2023
Last decision
Oct 17, 2024
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.
Patent revokedMedian days to first decision
All UPC37% (34/91)124
Munich CDLockedLocked
Judge Ulrike VoßLockedLocked
Judge András KupeczLockedLocked
Judge Eric EnderlinLockedLocked

At the UPC: NanoString Group (21 cases)·President and Fellows of Harvard College (21 cases)

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Related cases
All proceedings on this patent

This dispute contains 3 other proceedings

UPC CoA 808/2024·UPC APP 42900/2024·UPC APP 56792/2024

13 other defendants litigating the same or a related patent

UPC CFI 3233/2026·UPC CFI 1594/2026·UPC CoA 681/2025·UPC CoA 654/2024·UPC CoA 470/2023 and 8 more

Start a free trial to see how each one ended.

More cases: Munich CD·2023

Decisions
  • 2024-10-17
    Revocation ActionPublic

    Summary: The Munich Section of the Central Division revoked European Patent EP 2 794 928 B1 (owned by President and Fellows of Harvard College) in its entirety, with effect in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, in a revocation action brought by NanoString Technologies Europe Limited. The Court found that the main claim lacked novelty over the prior art disclosure 'Göransson', and that all eight auxiliary requests (AR1–8) also lacked inventive step over Göransson. Harvard's auxiliary requests to amend the patent were all rejected. Harvard as the unsuccessful party must bear NanoString's legal costs.

    Show the legal issues (5)
    • Revocation — novelty under Art. 54(1) EPC
    • Inventive step over Göransson prior art
    • Late auxiliary requests under R. 50.2 RoP
    • Stay of proceedings / lis pendens under Art. 29–32 Brussels I Recast
    • International jurisdiction of the UPC
  • 2024-01-31
    Revocation ActionPublic

    Summary: The Munich Central Division issued orders following the interim conference in the NanoString v. Harvard revocation action, admitting document D46 as prior art, confirming the oral hearing for 17 April 2024, and setting the value of proceedings at EUR 7.5 million.

    Show the legal issues (3)
    • Admission of prior art document D46 under Rules 103/105.5 RoP
    • Setting of oral hearing date and value of proceedings
    • Interim conference procedure
  • 2024-01-31
    Revocation ActionPublic

    Summary: The Munich Central Division judge-rapporteur issued an interim conference order (R. 103/105.5 RoP) in the revocation action by NanoString Technologies Europe against Harvard concerning EP 2 794 928. The order recorded directions from the interim conference, including admission of document D46 with a response period for the defendant, and setting the value of proceedings at EUR 7,500,000.

    Show the legal issues (3)
    • Admission of late-filed prior art document (D46)
    • Front-loaded proceedings and submission of prior art
    • Value of proceedings set at EUR 7,500,000
  • 2024-01-31
    Revocation ActionPublic

    Summary: Procedural order from Munich Central Division (judge-rapporteur András Kupecz) following the interim conference in a revocation action brought by NanoString Technologies Europe Limited against President and Fellows of Harvard College concerning EP 2 794 928. The order addresses admissibility of document D46 (filed as prior art in the reply): the defendant withdrew its objection, D46 was admitted into proceedings, and the defendant was given six weeks to respond in writing. Further, the judge-rapporteur indicated the case value for cost purposes. No substantive ruling.

    Show the legal issues (3)
    • Admissibility of late-filed prior art document (D46)
    • Front-loaded proceedings (R. 43 RoP)
    • Interim conference procedure (R. 103/105.5 RoP)
  • 2023-10-30
    Revocation ActionPublic

    Summary: The Munich Central Division ordered Harvard College (claimant/defendant in revocation action) to provide security for legal costs under Article 69(4) UPCA and Rule 158 RoP, finding legitimate concern about enforcement of a potential cost order against NanoString Technologies Europe (a UK-based entity) in light of a preliminary injunction already imposed.

    Show the legal issues (4)
    • Security for legal costs (Art. 69(4) UPCA, Rule 158 RoP)
    • Enforcement in UK
    • Proportionality
    • Article 47 EU Charter
  • 2023-10-04
    Revocation ActionPublic

    Summary: The Munich Central Division ordered that a preliminary objection based on Articles 29 and 30 Brussels Ibis Regulation (lis pendens / related actions) be dealt with in the main proceedings rather than separately, for reasons of procedural economy and efficiency under Rule 20.2 RoP.

    Show the legal issues (4)
    • Preliminary objection (Rule 48 RoP)
    • Jurisdiction (Arts. 29-30 Brussels Ibis)
    • Lis pendens
    • Rule 20.2 RoP
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Procedural Order2025-01-03Not public
Order re Release of Security2024-12-17Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-12-17Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-12-17Not public
final order application to release security2024-12-17Public
final order application to release security2024-12-17Not public
Template-Order2024-12-17Not public
Reply2024-12-09Not public
241125 NanoString - Response to order re security2024-11-25Not public
preliminary order2024-11-18Not public
preliminary order2024-11-18Not public
Comments re cost security - 2024-10-25_signed2024-10-25Not public
preliminary order2024-10-18Not public
Receipt2024-10-18Not public
BSec32024-10-17Not public
241017 NanoString - Request to release security2024-10-17Not public
BSec12024-10-17Not public
BSec22024-10-17Not public
BSec42024-10-17Not public
Decision anonymised2024-10-17Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-10-17Not public
DecisionOutcome2024-10-17Not public
decision revocation action 252/20232024-10-17Public
decision revocation action 252/20232024-10-17Not public
Recording of Oral Hearing - Reference2024-09-25Not public
Recording of Oral Hearing - Reference2024-09-25Not public
Receipt2024-09-18Not public
Rule 9 RoP application2024-09-17Not public
Receipt2024-09-05Not public
Receipt2024-09-05Not public
Application for Protection of Confidentiality_R262A_Harvard2024-09-04Not public
Exhibit BP29 - Harvard - Confidential2024-09-04Not public
Submission for costs incurred_Harvard2024-09-04Not public
Submission of Harvard re attendees in oral hearing2024-09-04Not public
Final Order2024-09-04Not public
Receipt2024-09-03Not public
240903 NanoString Attendees oral hearing2024-09-03Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-08-20Not public
RoP 9 order2024-08-20Not public
RoP 9 order2024-08-20Public
Template-Order2024-08-20Not public
RoP 9 order2024-08-20Not public
240816 comments pursuant to RoP2642024-08-16Not public
Opportunity to comment2024-08-14Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-08-14Not public
Translation of Exhibits2024-08-14Public
Receipt2024-08-13Not public
Exhibit BP27 - Harvard - EN2024-08-13Not public
Request of Harvard for procedural order_signed - EN2024-08-13Not public
Exhibit BP28 - Harvard - DE2024-08-13Not public
Receipt2024-08-12Not public
240812 submission forwarding DE nullity decision2024-08-12Not public
D602024-08-12Not public
interimProcedureClosure2024-07-25Not public
summons2024-07-25Not public
summons oral hearing2024-07-25Public
Hearing-Dates2024-07-25Not public
RoP 9 Order2024-07-25Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-07-25Not public
RoP 9 order2024-07-25Public
RoP 9 order2024-07-25Not public
RoP 9 order2024-07-25Not public
240724 inadmissibility of further submission of patentee2024-07-24Not public
preliminary order re further submission2024-07-23Not public
Receipt2024-07-23Not public
Brief - Harvard 2024-07-22_signed2024-07-22Not public
Exhibit BP 252024-07-22Not public
Exhibit BP 262024-07-22Not public
Receipt2024-05-16Not public
D582024-05-16Not public
D592024-05-16Not public
240516 submission RE closing2024-05-16Not public
240516 submission RE closing2024-05-16Not public
D582024-05-16Not public
D592024-05-16Not public
Receipt2024-04-26Not public
240426 NanoString Submission2024-04-26Not public
D572024-04-26Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-04-02Not public
order re postponement oral hearing2024-04-02Public
Brief Harvard (signed) - 2024-03-202024-03-20Not public
240320 submission on invalidity of AR22024-03-20Not public
preliminary order2024-03-15Not public
Receipt2024-03-15Not public
240315 submission response R 103/105.5 RoP2024-03-15Not public
D562024-03-15Not public
Receipt2024-03-08Not public
Preliminary Order2024-03-08Not public
Response to US043 attacks Harvard signed - 2024-03-072024-03-07Not public
240307 NanoString Response to Defendant2024-03-07Not public
preliminary order subsequent application to amend2024-03-04Not public
Receipt2024-03-04Not public
Exhibit BP23a - Harvard - EN2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP24a - Harvard - EN_signed2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP23 - Harvard - DE2024-03-01Not public
Subsequent Application to amend the patent - 2024-03-01_signed2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP24 - Harvard - EN_signed2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP24a - Harvard - EN_signed2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP24 - Harvard - EN_signed2024-03-01Not public
Subsequent Application to amend the patent - 2024-03-01_signed2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP23 - Harvard - DE2024-03-01Not public
Exhibit BP23a - Harvard - EN2024-03-01Not public
final order 103/105.5 RoP2024-02-02Public
final order 103/105.5 RoP2024-02-02Not public
Template-Order2024-02-02Not public
interim conference reference2024-02-02Not public
interim conference reference2024-02-02Not public
Fix-Interim-Conference-Date2024-02-02Not public
final RoP103-105 order after interim conference2024-01-31Not public
final RoP103-105 order after interim conference2024-01-31Public
final order IC2024-01-31Not public
Template-Order2024-01-31Not public
Template-Order2024-01-31Not public
interimConferenceDecision2024-01-24Not public
writtenProcedureClosure2024-01-24Not public
intended closure written proceedings and interim conference invitation2024-01-16Not public
rejoinAmendPatentDefence2024-01-12Not public
Rejoinder to the Reply to the Defense to an application to amend the Patent2024-01-12Not public
D552024-01-12Not public
D55A2024-01-12Not public
replyAmendPatentDefence2023-12-27Not public
Reply to the Defence to the Application to amend the Patent Harvard (signed)2023-12-27Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-12-27Not public
Rejoinder to the Reply to the Defence to Revocation Harvard (signed)2023-12-27Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-12-12Not public
confirmation order2023-12-12Not public
Receipt2023-12-05Not public
Confirmation of payment2023-12-05Not public
amendPatentDefence2023-11-27Not public
D172023-11-27Not public
D462023-11-27Not public
D432023-11-27Not public
D442023-11-27Not public
D232023-11-27Not public
D062023-11-27Not public
D332023-11-27Not public
D212023-11-27Not public
D512023-11-27Not public
D182023-11-27Not public
D372023-11-27Not public
D452023-11-27Not public
D362023-11-27Not public
D522023-11-27Not public
D052023-11-27Not public
D102023-11-27Not public
D042023-11-27Not public
D142023-11-27Not public
D29A2023-11-27Not public
D252023-11-27Not public
D382023-11-27Not public
D322023-11-27Not public
D352023-11-27Not public
D26A2023-11-27Not public
D112023-11-27Not public
D012023-11-27Not public
D202023-11-27Not public
D312023-11-27Not public
D292023-11-27Not public
D282023-11-27Not public
D162023-11-27Not public
D032023-11-27Not public
D122023-11-27Not public
D132023-11-27Not public
D422023-11-27Not public
D152023-11-27Not public
D472023-11-27Not public
D412023-11-27Not public
D392023-11-27Not public
D492023-11-27Not public
D192023-11-27Not public
D402023-11-27Not public
D222023-11-27Not public
D262023-11-27Not public
D092023-11-27Not public
D072023-11-27Not public
D022023-11-27Not public
D342023-11-27Not public
D542023-11-27Not public
EP928 response to patentee2023-11-27Not public
D27A2023-11-27Not public
D242023-11-27Not public
D272023-11-27Not public
D302023-11-27Not public
D082023-11-27Not public
D532023-11-27Not public
D28A2023-11-27Not public
D502023-11-27Not public
D482023-11-27Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-11-27Not public
D462023-11-27Not public
EP928 response to patentee2023-11-27Not public
D472023-11-27Not public
D502023-11-27Not public
D532023-11-27Not public
D492023-11-27Not public
D482023-11-27Not public
D542023-11-27Not public
D522023-11-27Not public
D512023-11-27Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-11-06Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2023-11-06Not public
Outcome of the Order2023-11-03Not public
order closing workflow2023-11-03Not public
Official Date2023-11-03Not public
Final order RoP 28 dd 031120232023-11-03Not public
NanoString - Response to preliminary order RoP 28 of 2 Nov 2023 (timing)2023-11-03Not public
Exhibit BP14a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP9 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP18a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP16a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP13 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP13a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP10 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit Application to amend patent - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP18 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP7a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP17a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP16 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP7 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP15a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP11 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP14 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP12 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP8 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP17 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Application to amend patent Harvard (signed) - 2023-11-022023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP15 - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
Exhibit BP12a - Harvard - EN2023-11-02Not public
RoP28 further preliminary order dated 2 November 20232023-11-02Not public
Template-Order2023-11-02Not public
Bundle of Exhibits BP 22 - Harvard - DE2023-10-31Not public
Response to Preliminary order Harvard (signed) - 2023-10-312023-10-31Not public
Response to preliminary order RoP 28 dated 271020232023-10-31Not public
Final order security request RoP 158.12023-10-30Not public
preliminary order RoP 28 dated 271020232023-10-27Not public
RoP 28 preliminary order 271020232023-10-27Not public
Receipt2023-10-26Not public
Application R 9 RoP further comments on timing2023-10-26Not public
Bundle of exhibits BP21 - Harvard - DE2023-10-20Not public
Response of Harvard to Preliminary Order RoP 28 (signed) - 2023-10-202023-10-20Not public
Exhibit BP20 - Harvard - DE2023-10-20Not public
Comments on timing proposed by the central division2023-10-19Not public
Response to patentee submission re security for legal costs2023-10-16Not public
preliminary order RoP 28 dated 161020232023-10-16Not public
Provisional Date2023-10-16Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2023-10-05Not public
Exhibit BP19 - Harvard - EN2023-10-04Not public
Response to Preliminary order Harvard (signed) - 2023-10-042023-10-04Not public
Exhibit BP4a - Harvard - EN2023-10-04Not public
Preliminary_Objection_DecisionOutcome2023-10-04Not public
Order informing the parties in accordance with Rule 20.2 RoP2023-10-04Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP14a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP16 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP14 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP18a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP18 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP15 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP6 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP13a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP15a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP7a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP16a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP7 Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP5 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP12 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Defence to revocation Harvard signed - 2023-09-282023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP4 - Harvard - DE2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP9 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP11 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP8 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP12a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP13 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP17a - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP10 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Exhibit BP17 - Harvard - EN2023-09-28Not public
Response to Defendant and to preliminary opinion2023-09-28Not public
Response of Harvard to preliminary order - 2023-09-222023-09-22Not public
Preliminary order Rule 9 RoP re security request2023-09-20Not public
Template-Order2023-09-20Not public
Preliminary Order 15 September2023-09-15Not public
commentPreliminaryObjection2023-09-11Not public
Comment on preliminary objection2023-09-11Not public
preliminaryObjection2023-08-29Not public
Exhibit_BP032023-08-28Not public
Exhibit_BP022023-08-28Not public
Exhibit_BP012023-08-28Not public
Preliminary objection AND Security for legal costs2023-08-28Not public
epoUploadDocumentsWorkflow2023-08-04Not public
Document from EPO2023-08-01Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2023-07-28Not public
Notification Of Service2023-07-28Not public
Panel-Appointment2023-07-27Not public
statementOfRevocation2023-07-27Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-07-27Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2023-07-27Not public
D312023-07-27Not public
D022023-07-27Not public
D282023-07-27Not public
D112023-07-27Not public
D162023-07-27Not public
D442023-07-27Not public
D172023-07-27Not public
Proof of Payment2023-07-27Not public
D222023-07-27Not public
D042023-07-27Not public
Revocation action2023-07-27Not public
D352023-07-27Not public
D132023-07-27Not public
D192023-07-27Not public
D412023-07-27Not public
D052023-07-27Not public
D242023-07-27Not public
D432023-07-27Not public
D202023-07-27Not public
D062023-07-27Not public
D402023-07-27Not public
D392023-07-27Not public
D152023-07-27Not public
D292023-07-27Not public
D232023-07-27Not public
D182023-07-27Not public
D122023-07-27Not public
D252023-07-27Not public
D422023-07-27Not public
D452023-07-27Not public
D262023-07-27Not public
D29A2023-07-27Not public
D082023-07-27Not public
D072023-07-27Not public
D142023-07-27Not public
D382023-07-27Not public
D012023-07-27Not public
D302023-07-27Not public
D28A2023-07-27Not public
D272023-07-27Not public
D322023-07-27Not public
D092023-07-27Not public
D032023-07-27Not public
D27A2023-07-27Not public
D362023-07-27Not public
D26A2023-07-27Not public
D102023-07-27Not public
D212023-07-27Not public
D332023-07-27Not public
D372023-07-27Not public
D342023-07-27Not public
D012023-07-27Not public
Plain-English summary

NanoString Technologies Europe Limited brought a revocation action before the Munich Central Division against President and Fellows of Harvard College concerning EP 2 794 928, a patent directed to compositions and methods for analyte detection. The court found claim 1 as granted lacked novelty over the prior art document Göransson, and all eight auxiliary requests lacked inventive step, resulting in full revocation of the patent with effect in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The decision aligned with the German Federal Patent Court's findings and the Court of Appeal's reasoning in a related NanoString/10x Genomics appeal.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Claim 1 as granted lacks novelty over Göransson

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 54(1) EPC

    Note: NanoString successfully established that the subject-matter of claim 1 of EP 2 794 928 was directly and unambiguously disclosed in the prior art document Göransson, resulting in revocation of the main request.

  • All auxiliary requests 1–8 lack inventive step over Göransson

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC

    Note: The Central Division (Munich) found that each of Harvard's eight auxiliary requests also failed to establish inventive step over Göransson, as none of the additional features rendered the claimed subject-matter inventive.

  • Subsequent auxiliary requests should not be admitted as they could and should have been filed earlier under the front-loaded UPC procedure

    ClaimantLegal basis: R. 50.2 RoP; R. 30.2 RoP; Preamble 7 RoP

    Note: The court declined to admit late-filed auxiliary requests from Harvard on the basis that the front-loaded nature of UPC proceedings requires parties to set out their full case as early as possible.

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

  • Proceedings should be stayed pending related national revocation action

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 30 Brussels I recast Regulation

    Reason: The Central Division declined to exercise its discretion to stay proceedings under Art. 30 Brussels I recast Regulation, finding the circumstances did not warrant a stay.

  • Auxiliary requests 2–8 render the claimed subject-matter patentable

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC

    Reason: Each auxiliary request was found to lack inventive step for the same or analogous reasons as AR1; additional features such as cleavage-based removal, specified lengths of subsequences and decoder probes, and 'at least two' plurality were all held not to establish inventive step over Göransson.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
novelty assessment requires direct and unambiguous disclosure of all claim features in prior artfront-loaded proceedings require parties to set out full case as early as possiblediscretion to stay proceedings where related national action pendinginternational jurisdiction examined of own motion where required by Union lawinventive step assessed using problem-solution approach

Browse other cases on this principle.

Prior art relied on
References cited and the role they played.
  • GöranssonNovelty-destroying
  • D46Obviousness combination
Claim construction notes

The court interpreted 'a plurality' of predetermined subsequences as meaning 'at least two', which was consistent with NanoString's position and formed part of the basis for finding lack of novelty/inventive step against AR8. No further detailed claim construction is described in the available excerpt.