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UPC CFI 316/2024

Jun 14, 2024·EP2061575: DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS FILTRATION OF IMPURITIES FROM A MOLTEN PLASTIC

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Infringement
Category
Main Infringement Action
Parties
Division
Dusseldorf LD
Judges
Technology
Industrial Manufacturing · Plastics Processing
Language
German
First decided
Dec 10, 2025
Claims
At issueall
Maintainedall
Infringedall
Notes: Indirect infringement of EP 2 061 575 found; injunction granted; revocation counterclaim dismissed; specific infringed claim numbers not enumerated in excerpt.
Decisions
  • 2025-12-10
    InfringedInjunction grantedRevocation meritsCounterclaim for revocation

    The Düsseldorf Local Division found indirect infringement of EP 2 061 575 B1 by Altech Makina and granted an injunction with removal from channels of commerce, while dismissing the revocation counterclaim; the infringement action was otherwise dismissed in part, with claimant bearing 30% and defendant 70% of costs.

    Legal issues:Indirect patent infringementRecall and removal from channels not available for indirect infringement onlyInterim award of damages under R. 119 RoP - plausibility requirementInventive step in revocation counterclaim - burden of proofPatent exhaustion defense
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Receipt2025-12-23Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-23Not public
Application document Claimant2025-12-23Not public
Receipt2025-12-19Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-19Not public
Application document Claimant2025-12-19Not public
action.phaseChange.caseClose2025-12-11Not public
action.publishOrderDecision.case2025-12-11Not public
Order2025-12-11Public
action.issueDecision.decision2025-12-10Not public
Decision2025-12-10Not public
Other Documents2025-11-17Not public
action.phaseChange.oralPhaseOpen2025-11-11Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-11Not public
Further pleadings2025-11-11Not public
Receipt2025-11-11Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-11Not public
Further pleadings2025-11-11Not public
Exhibit document Claimant2025-11-11Not public
Receipt2025-11-11Not public
action.issueOrder.order2025-11-10Not public
Order2025-11-10Public
Cover sheet2025-10-30Not public
Other document Claimant2025-10-30Not public
Receipt2025-10-30Not public
action.phaseChange.interimPhaseOpen2025-10-17Not public
Other Documents2025-10-17Public
action.issueOrder.order2025-10-09Not public
Order2025-10-09Not public
Hearing-Dates2025-09-01Not public
Ladung zur mündlichen Verhandlung, R. 108 VerfO2025-09-01Public
Ladung zur mündlichen Verhandlung2025-09-01Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-06-03Not public
R. 37.2 RoP Order2025-05-28Public
Gelegenheit zur Stellungnahme R. 37.2 VerfO2025-04-15Not public
Hearing-Dates2025-04-15Not public
Bestimmung Termin zur mündlichen Verhandlung2025-04-15Public
2025-04-15_Stellungnahme_PBP_zum_EPG_LK_Duesseldorf_sig2025-04-15Not public
Pre Order Bestimmung Termin zur mündlichen Verhandlung2025-04-10Not public
Hearing-Dates2025-04-10Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-02-26Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-01-20Not public
2025-01-20 Duplik PBP zum EPG LK DUS_sig2025-01-20Not public
Anlage B 92025-01-20Not public
Anlage B 102025-01-20Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-11-22Not public
K162024-11-22Not public
K172024-11-22Not public
K152024-11-22Not public
K182024-11-22Not public
Replik2024-11-22Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-09-23Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 22024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 72024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 82024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 62024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 12024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 42024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 52024-09-20Not public
2024-09-20_Klageerwiderung_PBP_zum_EPG_LK_Duesseldorf2024-09-20Not public
Anlage B 32024-09-20Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2024-08-20Not public
Notification Of Service2024-07-05Not public
Zustellungsbescheinigung2024-07-05Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-06-24Not public
epoUploadDocumentsWorkflow2024-06-20Not public
Document from EPO2024-06-19Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-06-18Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-06-17Not public
Zulassung Messezustellung2024-06-17Public
Letter for Service2024-06-17Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-06-17Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2024-06-17Not public
Receipt2024-06-17Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-06-17Not public
Receipt2024-06-17Not public
Schriftsatz2024-06-17Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-06-14Not public
Anlage K62024-06-14Not public
Anlage K32024-06-14Not public
Anlage K132024-06-14Not public
Anlage K122024-06-14Not public
Anlage K82024-06-14Not public
Anlage K72024-06-14Not public
ÜbersetzungKlage2024-06-14Not public
Anlage K12024-06-14Not public
Anlage K42024-06-14Not public
Klageschrift2024-06-14Not public
Anlage K52024-06-14Not public
Anlage K102024-06-14Not public
Anlage K112024-06-14Not public
Anlage K142024-06-14Not public
Anlage K22024-06-14Not public
Anlage K92024-06-14Not public
Anlage K1a2024-06-14Not public
Plain-English summary

M-A-S Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Schulz GmbH (Germany) sued Altech Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (Turkey) for infringement of EP 2 061 575 B1, a patent for a device for continuous filtration of impurities from molten plastic. The Düsseldorf Local Division found indirect infringement and granted an injunction with removal from channels of commerce, but refused recall/destruction (not available for indirect infringement only) and lump-sum interim damages (insufficient factual basis); the revocation counterclaim was dismissed because Altech failed to explain how the named prior art would be combined by a skilled person.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Indirect infringement of EP 2 061 575 B1 by Altech Makina's supply of essential components

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 26 UPCA

    Note: Court found indirect patent infringement and granted an injunction with removal from channels of commerce.

  • Revocation claimant must not only name prior art documents but explain their disclosure and how the skilled person would combine them to arrive at the invention without inventive activity

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 65 UPCA; R. 206 RoP

    Note: Court held the revocation counterclaim failed because defendant did not adequately explain why and how the skilled person would have combined the named prior art documents.

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

  • Patent EP 2 061 575 B1 lacks inventive step based on named prior art documents (revocation counterclaim)

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 65 UPCA

    Reason: Merely naming prior art documents is insufficient; the revocation claimant must explain their content and specifically detail how the skilled person would combine them to arrive at the claimed solution without inventive activity.

  • Recall, removal from channels of commerce, and destruction ordered for indirectly infringing products

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 63 UPCA; R. 119 RoP

    Reason: Recall, removal and destruction are generally not available for products only challenged on the basis of indirect infringement.

  • Interim award of lump-sum damages (R. 119 RoP) without specific factual basis

    ClaimantLegal basis: R. 119 RoP

    Reason: R. 119 RoP requires sufficient factual basis for a lump-sum award; claimant's submission must show the claim is based on a plausible estimate of specific facts.

  • Exhaustion defence: products supplied by patent holder exhaust patent rights

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 29 UPCA

    Reason: Exhaustion defence did not succeed on the facts (court found infringement); the underlying principles were addressed but the defence failed.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Recall, removal from channels of commerce, and destruction generally unavailable for products challenged on indirect infringement onlyInterim lump-sum damages under R. 119 RoP require sufficient factual basis and plausible estimation of specific factsRevocation claimant must explain prior art content and articulate how the skilled person would combine documents without inventive step; naming documents alone is insufficientIndirect infringement under Art. 26 UPCA can ground an injunction and removal order even absent direct infringementExhaustion under Art. 29 UPCA assessed on specific facts of authorised first placing on market

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