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UPC CFI 258/2025

Mar 25, 2025·EP3926698: LIGHT EMITTING DIODE

Case details
Status
Oral Phase
Action
Revocation
Category
Main Revocation Action
Parties
Claimants
Reps: Bernhard Ganahl (HGF Europe LLP); Dirk Jestaedt (KRIEGER MES Partnerschaft mbB)
Respondents
Reps: Olaf Isfort (Schneiders & Behrendt PartmbB, Rechts- und Patentanwälte); Bolko Ehlgen (Linklaters LLP); Julia Schönbohm (Linklaters LLP); Cordt-Magnus van Geuns-Rosch (Linklaters LLP)
Division
Paris CD
Judges
Technology
Semiconductors · LED Devices · Semiconductor Devices
Language
English
First decided
Sep 1, 2025
Last decision
Mar 30, 2026
Claims
At issue1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Revoked1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Notes: Claims 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 were previously declared invalid by the Court of Appeal (UPC_CoA_764 and 774/2024, decision of 2 October 2025) for added subject-matter. This decision revokes the remaining challenged claims 2, 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11 also for added subject-matter (unallowable intermediate generalization). Claims 12-14 were not within the scope of the revocation action and were not addressed.
Decisions
  • 2026-03-30
    RevokedRevocation meritsRevocation Action

    The Central Division (Paris seat) granted the revocation action filed by Emporia UK and Ireland Ltd. and declared European patent EP 3 926 698 B1 invalid to the extent of claims 2, 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11 (claims 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 having already been declared invalid by the Court of Appeal) with effect in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden. The ground of invalidity was added subject-matter: the openings near the edge of the substrate in feature 5.2 are inextricably linked to openings in the inner region of the device, and isolating one from the other constitutes an unallowable intermediate generalization. All auxiliary requests filed by the defendant were rejected as none addressed the identified defect.

    Legal issues:Added subject-matter (Art. 76(1) EPC): unallowable intermediate generalization by omitting openings between mesas while retaining openings near edge of substrate in feature 5.2Effect of independent claim revocation on unchallenged dependent claimsAdmissibility of subsequent request to amend patent under Rule 30(2) RoPInterpretation of 'openings near an edge of the substrate' (feature 5.2)Competence of Central Division under Art. 33(4) UPCA where parallel infringement proceedings involve related but distinct partiesAdmissibility of late-filed ground of invalidity (lack of novelty) introduced in Reply
  • 2025-09-01
    DismissedJurisdictionalPreliminary objection

    The Central Division Paris rejected Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd.'s preliminary objection requesting dismissal of Emporia UK and Ireland Ltd.'s revocation action as inadmissible under Art. 33(4) UPCA. Seoul Viosys argued that Emporia was a 'straw company' acting as a nominee for ex-pert klein GmbH (the defendant in parallel infringement proceedings before the Court of Appeal), and therefore constituted the 'same party'. The Court held that the 'straw company' theory has a legal basis in EU law and may be relevant under Art. 33(4) UPCA, but that mere coordination of litigation strategies between a distributor and its supplier does not constitute proof that one acts as a nominee for the other.

    Legal issues:Preliminary objection under Art.33(4) UPCASame parties requirementStraw company / nominee theory in EU lawCoordination of litigation strategies between distributor and supplier
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Receipt2026-04-17Not public
Cover sheet2026-04-17Not public
Application document Applicant2026-04-17Not public
Receipt2026-04-17Not public
Cover sheet2026-04-17Not public
Application document Applicant2026-04-17Not public
action.phaseChange.caseClose2026-03-30Not public
action.publishOrderDecision.decision2026-03-30Not public
action.issueDecision.decision2026-03-30Not public
Final Order2026-03-30Public
Hearing recording reference document2026-02-23Not public
Receipt2026-02-09Not public
Cover sheet2026-02-09Not public
Other document Claimant2026-02-09Not public
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Other document Defendant2026-02-06Not public
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action.phaseChange.oralPhaseOpen2026-02-05Not public
action.phaseChange.interimPhaseClose2026-02-05Not public
action.issueOrder.order2026-02-05Not public
Order2026-02-05Public
Other document Defendant2026-02-05Not public
action.issueOrder.order2026-01-20Not public
Order2026-01-20Public
action.phaseChange.interimPhaseOpen2026-01-20Not public
Other Documents2026-01-14Not public
action.issueOrder.order2025-12-30Not public
Order2025-12-30Not public
Receipt2025-12-23Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-23Not public
Exhibit document Claimant2025-12-23Not public
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Further pleadings2025-12-23Not public
Receipt2025-12-22Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-22Not public
Exhibit document Defendant2025-12-22Not public
Exhibit document Defendant2025-12-22Not public
Exhibit document Defendant2025-12-22Not public
Application document Defendant2025-12-22Not public
action.issueOrder.order2025-12-03Not public
Order2025-12-03Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-01Not public
Other document Claimant2025-12-01Not public
Receipt2025-12-01Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-01Not public
Other document Defendant2025-12-01Not public
Receipt2025-12-01Not public
action.communication.general2025-11-27Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-06Not public
Statement of rejoinder2025-11-06Not public
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Cover sheet2025-10-10Not public
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Exhibit2025-10-10Not public
Statement of reply2025-10-10Not public
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Headnote-and-Keywords2025-09-01Not public
Preliminary_Objection_DecisionOutcome2025-09-01Not public
preliminary objection2025-09-01Public
Template-Order2025-09-01Not public
250814_LL_Closure_Of_Workflow2025-08-14Not public
250801_LL__Reply_to_Comments_Preliminary_objection_SVC2025-08-14Not public
hearing date2025-08-14Public
Template-Order2025-08-14Not public
Submission with respect to date of hearing2025-08-13Not public
250813_LL_Availability_Hearing_SVC2025-08-13Not public
preliminary order2025-08-11Not public
Submission_05.08.20252025-08-05Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-08-05Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-08-05Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-08-05Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-08-05Not public
LL22025-08-04Not public
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Defence to revocation and application to amend2025-08-04Not public
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Reply to request for correction2025-08-04Not public
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SB102025-08-04Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2025-08-04Not public
250801_LL__Reply_to_Comments_Preliminary_objection_SVC2025-08-01Not public
SB62025-07-29Not public
SB12025-07-29Not public
SB122025-07-29Not public
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Defence to revocation and application to amend the patent2025-07-29Not public
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LL12025-07-29Not public
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Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-07-29Not public
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Defence to revocation and application to amend2025-07-29Not public
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SB042025-07-29Not public
SB052025-07-29Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-07-21Not public
rule 92025-07-18Public
Receipt2025-07-18Not public
Request for extension of time2025-07-18Not public
procedural order2025-07-16Public
Cover2025-07-08Not public
Submission 080720252025-07-08Not public
Annex_1_Italian_torpedo2025-07-08Not public
Preliminary-Objection2025-06-30Not public
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Panel-Appointment2025-06-10Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2025-06-03Not public
Notification Of Service2025-06-03Not public
AR RA Seoul Viosys -14399-2025 - 27.05.20252025-06-03Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-05-20Not public
closing workflow2025-05-20Public
Outcome of the Order2025-05-20Not public
closing workflow2025-05-20Public
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Submission 130520252025-05-13Not public
Statement of claims DE translation2025-05-13Not public
Passport Ganahl2025-05-13Not public
Statement of claims KR translation2025-05-13Not public
Submission 050520252025-05-13Not public
A112025-05-13Not public
Passport Julia Saladin2025-05-13Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-04-28Not public
Passport Julia Saladin2025-04-28Not public
Change of electronic address for service2025-04-28Not public
communicationCheck2025-04-14Not public
Document from EPO2025-04-11Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-04-09Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2025-04-09Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-04-09Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-04-09Not public
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isolated nullity action2025-04-09Not public
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9_Apr_2025_isolated_nullity_action_signed2025-04-09Not public
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Isolated nullity action2025-04-09Not public
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8_Apr_2025_isolated_nullity_action-signed2025-04-08Not public
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Plain-English summary

Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. filed a preliminary objection seeking to have Emporia UK and Ireland Ltd.'s revocation action against EP 3 926 698 (LED device) dismissed as inadmissible, arguing Emporia was a straw company for distributor ex-pert klein GmbH already involved in parallel infringement proceedings concerning the same patent. The Paris Central Division (presiding judge Catallozzi) rejected the objection, holding that while the straw company doctrine is relevant under EU law to Art. 33(4) UPCA, coordinated litigation strategy between a supplier and distributor does not prove that one acts as the other's nominee without genuine independent business activity.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • 'Straw company' theory has a basis in EU law and may be relevant to the 'same parties' element under Art. 33(4) UPCA

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 33(4) UPCA; CJEU general principle of prohibition of abuse of rights (Halifax C-255/02; Cadbury Schweppes C-196/04)

    Note: Court acknowledged the legal relevance of the straw company doctrine under EU law as a matter of principle.

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

  • Emporia UK and Ireland Ltd. is a 'straw company' acting as nominee for ex-pert klein GmbH, making them the 'same party' for purposes of Art. 33(4) UPCA, rendering the revocation action inadmissible

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 33(4) UPCA; R. 171.1 RoP

    Reason: The evidence — shared legal counsel, overlapping validity attacks, coordination of litigation strategy, and ex-pert klein's request for stay — demonstrated coordination between a supplier (Emporia) and its distributor (ex-pert klein) but not that Emporia was created or used solely as a nominee without genuine independent business activity. Coordination of defensive strategies by a supplier and distributor is commercially rational and insufficient to establish straw company status.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
straw company doctrine under EU law applicable to 'same parties' analysis under Art. 33(4) UPCAburden of proof on party asserting straw company status (R. 171.1 RoP)coordination of litigation strategies between supplier and distributor insufficient to establish straw companyUPC framework does not preclude same patent being attacked by different entities with overlapping groundsabuse of rights principle (CJEU): requires genuine lack of independent business activity

Browse other cases on this principle.