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UPC CFI 350/2025

Apr 22, 2025·EP2728089: Sequenced chamber wave generator controller and method

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Revocation
Category
Main Revocation Action
Parties
Claimants
Reps: Tobias Wuttke (Bardehle Pagenberg)
Respondents
Reps: Roland Küppers
Division
Paris CD
Judges
Technology
Software & Computing · Industrial Control Systems · Computing & AI
Language
English
First decided
Jan 12, 2026
Claims
At issue1
Revoked1
Notes: EP 2 728 089 partially revoked as to claim 1 only (lack of inventive step over D1 combined with D3); remaining claims not attacked.
Decisions
  • 2026-01-12
    Partially revokedRevocation meritsRevocation Action

    Paris Central Division (Paris seat) issued a decision by default partially revoking European patent EP2728089 ('Sequenced chamber wave generator controller and method'). The court found Claim 1 invalid for lack of novelty (anticipated by prior art D1 combined with D3, i.e. obvious) within the scope of the UPC contracting member states in which the patent was in force. The patent was partially revoked as to Claim 1. American Wave Machines failed to participate. Costs borne by American Wave. The patent was not entirely revoked; the revocation was limited to Claim 1's territorial scope in UPC states.

    Legal issues:Revocation action by default (R.355 RoP)Lack of novelty / obviousness of Claim 1Territorial scope of revocation in UPC contracting member statesDefault decision procedure
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
action.issueOrder.order2026-06-01Not public
Order2026-06-01Not public
Receipt2026-05-07Not public
Cover sheet2026-05-07Not public
Document Claimant2026-05-07Not public
Receipt2026-04-28Not public
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Application document Claimant2026-04-28Not public
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action.communication.general2026-04-15Not public
Other Documents2026-04-15Not public
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action.communication.general2026-04-14Not public
Receipt2026-04-13Not public
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Fee2026-04-13Not public
Document Defendant2026-04-13Not public
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Document Defendant2026-04-13Not public
Proof of payment2026-04-13Not public
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Application document Defendant2026-04-13Not public
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Exhibit Defendant2026-04-13Not public
Application document Defendant2026-04-13Not public
Other Documents2026-04-08Not public
Receipt2026-02-12Not public
Cover sheet2026-02-12Not public
Application document Applicant2026-02-12Not public
Application document Applicant2026-02-12Not public
action.phaseChange.caseClose2026-01-12Not public
action.issueDecision.decision2026-01-12Not public
Decision2026-01-12Not public
action.phaseChange.writtenPhaseClose2026-01-12Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-07-18Not public
Receipt2025-07-11Not public
Application2025-07-10Not public
Notification Of Service2025-05-19Not public
Proof of service - 08.05.20252025-05-19Not public
Letter-for-Service2025-05-05Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-05-05Not public
communicationCheck2025-05-05Not public
communicationCheck2025-05-05Not public
communicationCheck2025-05-05Not public
communicationCheck2025-05-05Not public
communicationCheck2025-05-05Not public
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Document from EPO2025-05-01Not public
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Document from EPO2025-04-30Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2025-04-29Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-04-29Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-04-29Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2m2025-04-28Not public
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Response to request for correction2025-04-28Not public
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Exhibit BP6 - EN2025-04-28Not public
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Exhibit BP-CR7_CW32025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR14_CL32025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2_FB52025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP3 - EN2025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR21_FB42025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR9a_CW5a2025-04-28Not public
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Exhibit BP-CR1_D12025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR19_FB22025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR15_CL42025-04-28Not public
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Exhibit BP-CR26_D52025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR6_CW22025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7a_CW3a2025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR9_CW52025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR10_CW62025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP-CR13_CL22025-04-28Not public
Central Revocation Action2025-04-28Not public
Exhibit BP2 - EN2025-04-28Not public
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Exhibit BP-CR27_D62025-04-28Not public
Proof of Payment2025-04-28Not public
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Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2025-04-23Not public
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Exhibit BP5 - EN2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR27_D62025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR16_CL52025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2a_D2a2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR5_CW12025-04-22Not public
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Exhibit BP-CR2n2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR17_CL62025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR4_D42025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2_D22025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2l2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7b_CW3b2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR9b_CW5b2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR21_FB42025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2m2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR9_CW52025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2e2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7a_CW3a2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2_FB52025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR24_FB72025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR9a_CW5a2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP2 - EN2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR15_CL42025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR20_FB32025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR26_D52025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7c_CW3c2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7d_CW3d2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR13_CL22025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2d2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2c2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2h2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP6 - EN2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP1 - EN2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR1_D12025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7e_CW3e2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP3 - EN2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2i2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7_CW32025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR11_CW72025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2j2025-04-22Not public
Proof of Payment2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR23_FB62025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7f_CW3f2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR9c_CW5c2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR12_CL12025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR19_FB22025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2g2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR10_CW62025-04-22Not public
Central Revocation Action2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR6_CW22025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR7g_CW3g2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2k2025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR8_CW42025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR18_FB12025-04-22Not public
Exhibit BP-CR2f2025-04-22Not public
Plain-English summary

WhiteWater West Industries Inc. obtained a default judgment from the Paris Central Division partially revoking EP 2 728 089 (sequenced chamber wave generator controller and method) owned by American Wave Machines, Inc., which failed to file any defence. The Court found claim 1 obvious over US 4,558,474 (D1) combined with D3, holding that the skilled person would combine pneumatic-actuation wave generation from D1 with D3's software-controlled wave-profile mobile controller, with LAN connectivity being routine at the 2012 priority date.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Claim 1 of EP 2 728 089 lacks inventive step over D1 (US 4,558,474) combined with D3

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC

    Note: Court held the skilled person would combine D1's pneumatic wave generation with D3's mobile application controller and software wave-profile interface; difference in actuation method (pneumatic vs hydraulic) would not deter combination.

  • D3's laptop with wired LAN connection corresponds to 'mobile application controller' and implementing wireless/LAN connection was routine at the 2012 priority date

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC

    Note: Court found the wired connection in D3 would obviously be replaced by standard LAN or wireless network as a matter of routine practice at the priority date.

  • Default decision appropriate as American Wave Machines failed to file defence within time limit

    ClaimantLegal basis: R. 355 RoP; R. 49 RoP

    Note: Defendant was duly served on 8 May 2025 and failed to file defence within two months; court granted request for default decision.

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

  • Claim 1 lacks novelty over public prior uses (Chilliwack, Chime Long, Festival Bay facilities) and D5 (US 2008/0085159)

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 54 EPC

    Reason: Court addressed only the D1 combined with D3 obviousness attack, which succeeded; remaining grounds were deemed absorbed by the successful invalidity conclusion.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
decision by default under R. 355 RoPobviousness assessment: combination of prior art from different actuation domains permissible where sequence of controller operation is independent of valve structureroutine implementation of network connection as of 2012 priority datepartial revocation limited to scope of claim 1 in UPC member statescosts borne by absent defendant as unsuccessful party

Browse other cases on this principle.

Prior art relied on
References cited and the role they played.
  • US 4,558,474 (D1)Obviousness combination
  • D3 (publication on hydraulic wave generation with software interface)Obviousness combination
  • US 2008/0085159 A1 (D5)Background
  • D2, D4, D6Obviousness combination
  • Chilliwack, Chime Long, Festival Bay prior usesBackground
Claim construction notes

The Court identified claim 1 of EP 2 728 089 as covering a sequenced chamber wave generator controller with a mobile application controller and a software interface for specifying wave profiles. The 'mobile application controller' was construed to include a laptop with wired LAN, and the 'local area network' was held to encompass wired connections obvious to implement wirelessly at the 2012 priority date.