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UPC CFI 26/2025

Jan 14, 2025·EP3705415 +1 more: PACKAGE, IN PARTICULAR FOR FOOD PRODUCTS

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Infringement
Category
Main Infringement Action
Parties
Claimants
Reps: Florian Robl (Torggler & Hofmann Patentanwälte); Markus Gangl (Torggler & Hofmann Patentanwälte)
Respondents
Reps: Prof. Ddr. Mireille Buydens (Janson); Charles Bernard (Janson); Ludivine Coulon (Janson); Sjors de Koning (Janson)
Division
Vienna LD
Judges
Technology
Industrial Manufacturing · Packaging Machines · Packaging & Conveying
Language
English
First decided
Feb 19, 2026
Claims
At issueall
Maintainedall
Not infringedall
Notes: Infringement action dismissed for lack of direct or equivalent infringement of EP 3 705 415 B1; counterclaim for revocation also dismissed, patent maintained as granted.
Decisions
  • 2026-02-19
    Not infringedInfringement meritsInfringement Action

    The Vienna Local Division dismissed both Messerle GmbH's infringement action and Sabert Corporation Europe's counterclaim for revocation concerning EP 3 705 415 B1 (a packaging-related patent). The infringement action was dismissed because the accused 'Tray2Go' product did not directly or equivalently infringe the patent claims — the Court found no technical-functional equivalence of the substitute means used in the accused product. The counterclaim for revocation was also dismissed, so the patent was maintained as granted. Each party bears its own costs (maximum EUR 600,000 total, split evenly between action and counterclaim).

    Legal issues:Direct infringement and equivalence doctrineTechnical-functional equivalence testTimeliness of prior art evidence under R. 25.1 RoPDisclosure content of commercial brochures as prior artAuthentic language of patent under Art. 70(1) EPC
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
action.phaseChange.caseClose2026-02-23Not public
action.issueDecision.decision2026-02-19Not public
Decision2026-02-19Public
action.phaseChange.oralPhaseClose2026-02-19Not public
Other Documents2026-02-03Not public
Other Documents2026-02-03Not public
action.communication.general2025-12-19Not public
Other Documents2025-12-19Not public
Other Documents2025-12-19Not public
Order2025-11-20Public
Cover sheet2025-11-03Not public
Other document Defendant2025-11-03Not public
Receipt2025-11-03Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-03Not public
Further pleadings2025-11-03Not public
Receipt2025-11-03Not public
action.communication.oralHearing2025-10-27Not public
Other Documents2025-10-27Not public
action.phaseChange.oralPhaseOpen2025-10-27Not public
Other Documents2025-10-27Not public
action.phaseChange.writtenPhaseClose2025-10-27Not public
Other Documents2025-10-27Not public
Cover sheet2025-10-02Not public
Statement of rejoinder2025-10-02Not public
Receipt2025-10-02Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-09-02Not public
S. Wiktionary definition for "Kanal".2025-09-02Not public
K. Letter from Hoffmann & Fechner to the EPO, 12 January 2021 + English translation.2025-09-02Not public
T. Physical samples of the Tray2Go blanks.2025-09-02Not public
O. Bailiff report of 7 August 2025 (English translation + French original).2025-09-02Not public
M. Print-out of the Ebay website in relation to the Solut ! Product.2025-09-02Not public
P. Invoice for the Solut ! Products bought on Ebay.2025-09-02Not public
Rejoinder to the Reply to the Statement of Defence2025-09-02Not public
R. DUDEN, Das Herkunfts-Wörterbuch, Berlin, 2013, v° Kanal2025-09-02Not public
Q. Entry in the Digital Dictionary of the German Language (DWDS) for the word "Kanal”.2025-09-02Not public
J. Physical evidence of the Solut! Product2025-09-02Not public
N. Declaration of Solut! dated August 26, 20252025-09-02Not public
L. Intention to grant the patent in relation to EP24156301A1.2025-09-02Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 1 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure S - Excerpt Italian Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 6 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 52025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 2 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 5 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 72025-07-03Not public
Enclosure Y - Excerpt German Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 52025-07-03Not public
Enclosure Z - Excerpt Slovenian Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure W - Excerpt Finnish Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 3 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 1 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 7 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Reply to the Statement of Defence and Defence to the Counterclaim for Revocation2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure Q - Excerpt EP-Register(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure ZB - US_2024277170_A12025-07-03Not public
Enclosure X - Excerpt French Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 7 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 2 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 62025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 4 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 4 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 32025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 12025-07-03Not public
Enclosure V - Excerpt Dutch Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 22025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 32025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 5 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure ZA - Excerpt Swedish Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure T - Excerpt Austrian Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 12025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 62025-07-03Not public
Enclosure R - Excerpt Danish Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
English Translation Auxiliary Request 42025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 3 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 72025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 6 (marked)2025-07-03Not public
Enclosure U - Excerpt Belgian Patent Reg(June2025)2025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 22025-07-03Not public
Auxiliary Request 42025-07-03Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-05-22Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-05-12Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-05-12Not public
Enclosure D12025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D62025-05-09Not public
Statement of Defence2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E42025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D22025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D152025-05-09Not public
Enclosure A22025-05-09Not public
Enclosure H2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure C62025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D102025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B52025-05-09Not public
Enclosure A42025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D32025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B12025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D112025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B32025-05-09Not public
Amended Statement of Defence2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure I2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D172025-05-09Not public
Enclosure C42025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D92025-05-09Not public
Enclosure F2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D42025-05-09Not public
Enclosure C32025-05-09Not public
Formal response to the request for amendments2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure A12025-05-09Not public
Enclosure C52025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D4bis2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure G2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E32025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D132025-05-09Not public
Enclosure A32025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B72025-05-09Not public
Enclosure C22025-05-09Not public
Enclosure C12025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B22025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B62025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D122025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E12025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D82025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E52025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D8bis2025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B42025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E62025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D142025-05-09Not public
Enclosure B82025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D52025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E82025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E22025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D162025-05-09Not public
Enclosure E72025-05-09Not public
Enclosure D72025-05-09Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-05-09Not public
Application to change the details of a representative2025-05-09Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2025-05-09Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D12025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B32025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B52025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B42025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D42025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E22025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D8bis2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure A22025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B82025-04-25Not public
Enclosure C42025-04-25Not public
Enclosure C32025-04-25Not public
Enclosure F2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D4bis2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D62025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B22025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B72025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E12025-04-25Not public
Enclosure H2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E72025-04-25Not public
Enclosure I2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D22025-04-25Not public
Enclosure C12025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E42025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D102025-04-25Not public
Enclosure C22025-04-25Not public
Enclosure A32025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D72025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D142025-04-25Not public
Statement of Defence2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E62025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D122025-04-25Not public
Enclosure G2025-04-25Not public
Enclosure C52025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E82025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D172025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B12025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E32025-04-25Not public
Enclosure B62025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D132025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D52025-04-25Not public
Enclosure A42025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D162025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D32025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D152025-04-25Not public
Enclosure E52025-04-25Not public
Enclosure A12025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D112025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D92025-04-25Not public
Enclosure C62025-04-25Not public
Enclosure D82025-04-25Not public
Order2025-03-27Not public
Receipt2025-03-14Not public
Pages regarding Deli2Go family (from Catalogue 2025)2025-03-14Not public
Pages regarding Tray2Go family (from Catalogue 2025)2025-03-14Not public
Request for Leave to Change the Claim2025-03-14Not public
Title page of Catalogue 20252025-03-14Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2025-03-11Not public
Notification Of Service2025-02-12Not public
Receipt of service physical evidence2025-02-12Not public
Receipt of service of infringement action2025-02-12Not public
Excerpt from postal carrier showing the date of service of infringement action documents2025-02-12Not public
Excerpt from postal carrier showing the date of service of infringement action physical evidence2025-02-12Not public
Document from EPO2025-01-31Not public
Letter-for-Service2025-01-30Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-01-30Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2025-01-29Not public
Receipt2025-01-29Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-01-29Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-01-23Not public
Correction of Address for Service2025-01-23Not public
Photographic Evidence2025-01-20Not public
EP Federated Register2025-01-20Not public
Enclosure A - Assignment2025-01-20Not public
Physical Evidence2025-01-20Not public
Statement of Claim2025-01-20Not public
Feature Analysis2025-01-20Not public
Excerpt Danish Patent Register2025-01-20Not public
Commercial Reg Claimant2025-01-20Not public
Payment Confirmation2025-01-20Not public
Excerpt Italian Patent Reg2025-01-20Not public
EP3705415B12025-01-20Not public
Amended Statement of Claim2025-01-20Not public
Translation of EP 3705415 B12025-01-20Not public
Pre-Trial Correspondence2025-01-20Not public
Commercial Reg Defendant2025-01-20Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2025-01-20Not public
Excerpt Danish Patent Register2025-01-17Not public
Statement of Claim2025-01-17Not public
Feature Analysis2025-01-17Not public
Enclosure A - Assignment2025-01-17Not public
EP3705415B12025-01-17Not public
Physical Evidence2025-01-17Not public
Translation of EP 3705415 B12025-01-17Not public
Amended Statement of Claim2025-01-17Not public
Excerpt Italian Patent Reg2025-01-17Not public
Commercial Reg Claimant2025-01-17Not public
EP Federated Register2025-01-17Not public
Payment Confirmation2025-01-17Not public
Photographic Evidence2025-01-17Not public
Pre-Trial Correspondence2025-01-17Not public
Commercial Reg Defendant2025-01-17Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2025-01-17Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-01-14Not public
Translation of EP 3705415 B12025-01-14Not public
EP Federated Register2025-01-14Not public
Physical Evidence2025-01-14Not public
Statement of Claim2025-01-14Not public
Enclosure A - Assignment2025-01-14Not public
Pre-Trial Correspondence2025-01-14Not public
Payment Confirmation2025-01-14Not public
EP3705415B12025-01-14Not public
Commercial Reg Defendant2025-01-14Not public
Photographic Evidence2025-01-14Not public
Feature Analysis2025-01-14Not public
Commercial Reg Claimant2025-01-14Not public
Excerpt Italian Patent Reg2025-01-14Not public
Excerpt Danish Patent Register2025-01-14Not public
Coverage: Partial.Reasoning extracted with partial coverage — some sections may be incomplete.
Plain-English summary

Messerle GmbH sued Sabert Corporation Europe for infringement of EP 3 705 415 B1 (a food packaging patent) by Sabert's 'Tray2Go' product. The Vienna Local Division dismissed both the infringement action and Sabert's revocation counterclaim: no direct infringement was found and the claimant failed to establish technical-functional equivalence for the doctrine of equivalents because it did not identify the function or effect of the substituted structural means. The patent was maintained as granted and costs were split between the two proceedings.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • No technical-functional equivalence of substitute means in accused 'Tray2Go' product

    RespondentLegal basis: Doctrine of equivalents — technical-functional equivalence test

    Note: Defendant succeeded in defeating equivalence by showing the substituted sidewall element did not fulfil essentially the same function to achieve essentially the same effect as required by the patent's teaching.

  • Late-filed evidence of prior art (commercial brochure backed by physical product) should be excluded for lack of timely justification

    RespondentLegal basis: R. 25.1 RoP; front-loaded approach; Preamble RoP 7

    Note: Court upheld exclusion of untimely prior-art evidence, reinforcing the front-loaded UPC procedural model requiring full cases to be submitted as early as possible.

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

  • Accused 'Tray2Go' product infringes the patent under the doctrine of equivalents via Variant A (gradual transgression of second stiffening portion)

    ClaimantLegal basis: Doctrine of equivalents — technical-functional equivalence test

    Reason: Claimant failed to demonstrate what technical effect the substitute means achieved or that it fulfilled essentially the same function to produce essentially the same effect; argument also raised for the first time in Reply and lacked supporting analysis.

  • Physical product obtained from a commercial brochure can establish the brochure's prior-art disclosure

    RespondentLegal basis: Headnote 2 of decision; Art. 70(1) EPC (authentic text)

    Reason: A commercial brochure is evaluated as a stand-alone publication; obtaining the advertised physical product is not a valid approach to establishing the brochure's disclosure as a piece of prior art.

  • Claims should be construed based on English translation rather than the German-language authentic text

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 70(1) EPC

    Reason: Under Art. 70(1) EPC the language of the patent (German for EP415) is the authentic text; the court construed claims in German even though proceedings were in English.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Doctrine of equivalents requires technical-functional equivalence: substitute means must fulfil essentially the same function to achieve essentially the same effectFront-loaded UPC procedure requires parties to submit all facts and evidence as early as possible (R. 25.1 RoP; Preamble RoP 7)Timeliness of prior-art evidence: late submission requires reasonable justificationA commercial brochure is evaluated as a stand-alone document; the physical product it advertises is not its disclosureAuthentic text of a European patent is the language of grant (Art. 70(1) EPC) regardless of the language of proceedings

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

The court construed the patent in the German-language authentic text (EP 3 705 415 B1 is in German), interpreting English translations in light of the German original. The key disputed structural feature was the 'wall portion of a side wall that has retaining elements' to which an adhesive-bonding portion is connected — the Tray2Go product uses a different side wall, which the court found neither literally nor equivalently covered.