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UPC CFI 376/2023

Oct 23, 2023·EP2331036 +1 more: DEVICE FOR TREATING NIGHT TIME BREATHING PROBLEMS

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Infringement
Category
Main Infringement Action
Parties
Claimants
Reps: C. Ronse; K. Claeyé; M.w. Rijsdijk; D.e. Colenbrander
Respondents
Reps: Van den Horst; Niemeijer
Division
Brussels LD
Judges
Technology
Medical Devices · Implants · Pharmaceutical & Medical
Language
Dutch
Claims
At issueall
Not infringedall
Notes: Both literal and equivalence infringement claims dismissed against OrthoApnea and Vivisol; specific claim numbers not enumerated in excerpt.
Decisions
  • 2025-01-17
    Not infringedInfringement Action

    Decision on the merits by the Brussels Local Division (full panel) in an infringement action concerning a patent on a medical device (sleep apnea treatment). The court dismissed both the literal infringement claim and the infringement-by-equivalence claim against OrthoApnea S.L. and Vivisol B BV. On literal infringement, the court interpreted the patent claims in light of the claim as a whole and found the accused products did not meet all claim features. On equivalence, the court found no functional equivalence regardless of which equivalence test was applied. The court also lifted the earlier evidence-preservation order (seizure) and ordered the claimant (unnamed, anonymized) to pay the defendants' costs. A key procedural holding addressed the temporal conditions for bringing main proceedings following evidence preservation.

    Legal issues:Literal infringement assessment under Art. 69 EPC and ProtocolInfringement by equivalence (functional equivalence test)Temporal conditions for main proceedings following evidence preservation under Rule 198(1) RoPEffect of service/upload date on Rule 198(1) complianceConsequences of dismissal on evidence-preservation order (Rule 198(2) RoP)
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated2025-01-21Not public
Headnote and Keywords2025-01-20Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2025-01-19Not public
DecisionOutcome2025-01-17Not public
Decision2025-01-17Public
Decision2025-01-17Not public
Final Order - R.105.5 RoP2024-09-23Not public
Interim conference september 6th 20242024-09-23Not public
Interim conference september 6th 20242024-09-23Not public
Final Order - R.105.5 RoP2024-09-23Not public
Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated2024-09-23Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-09-21Not public
interimProcedureClosure2024-09-21Not public
summons2024-09-21Not public
Order R. 108 RoP2024-09-21Public
Order R. 108 RoP2024-09-21Not public
Hearing-Dates2024-09-17Not public
Rule 105.52024-09-17Public
Rule 105.52024-09-17Not public
Interim conference september 6th 20242024-09-17Not public
Interim conference september 6th 20242024-09-17Not public
Fix-Interim-Conference-Date2024-09-16Not public
interimConferenceDecision2024-09-03Not public
writtenProcedureClosure2024-09-03Not public
Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated2024-08-23Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-08-02Not public
GP17 - Compare document gewijzigde eis van Nelissen2024-08-02Not public
Statement of Rejoinder2024-08-02Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-08-02Not public
Statement of Rejoinder2024-08-02Not public
GP17 - Compare document gewijzigde eis van Nelissen2024-08-02Not public
Final Order Rule 9 (linked to Rule 333)2024-07-26Not public
Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated2024-07-26Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-07-24Not public
Reply to Application 41533/20242024-07-20Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-07-19Not public
Rule 9 (linked to Rule 333)2024-07-19Public
Rule 9 (linked to Rule 333)2024-07-19Not public
Comments following Procedural Order 42503/20242024-07-18Not public
Rule 9 (linked to Rule 333)2024-07-18Not public
Order Rule 3332024-07-17Not public
Template-Order2024-07-17Not public
Receipt2024-07-17Not public
Application panel review2024-07-16Not public
Final order - Generic Procedural Order - NL (Substantive Order)2024-07-09Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-07-08Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-07-08Not public
Generic Procedural Order2024-07-08Public
Generic Procedural Order2024-07-08Not public
Response of OrthoApnea to Nellissen2024-07-05Not public
Reply R2642024-07-05Not public
Response of OrthoApnea to Nellissen2024-07-05Not public
Comments on procedural order ORD_37783/20242024-07-01Not public
Generic Procedural Order2024-06-25Not public
Receipt2024-06-25Not public
Objections against new grounds of equivalence2024-06-24Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.102024-06-18Not public
Stuk VII.32024-06-18Not public
Repliek op de Conclusie van Antwoord2024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.72024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 32024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.52024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.72024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 12024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 42024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.42024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 52024-06-18Not public
Stuk VII.12024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.102024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 22024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.122024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.112024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.32024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.92024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.62024-06-18Not public
Stuk VII.22024-06-18Not public
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Stuk VI.82024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.92024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.12024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.22024-06-18Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.72024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 22024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.102024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 32024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.42024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.12024-06-18Not public
Stuk VII.12024-06-18Not public
Stuk VII.32024-06-18Not public
Repliek op de Conclusie van Antwoord2024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 52024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 12024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.82024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.102024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.112024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.82024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.62024-06-18Not public
Stuk VII.22024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.22024-06-18Not public
Stuk V.7 bijlage 42024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.122024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.52024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.72024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.92024-06-18Not public
Stuk II.92024-06-18Not public
Stuk VI.32024-06-18Not public
Hearing-Dates2024-05-14Not public
Order Rule 282024-05-14Public
Comments on procedural order ORD_598293/20232024-04-29Not public
Procedural Order Rule 9 RoP2024-04-22Not public
Hearing-Dates2024-04-22Not public
Receipt2024-04-19Not public
Verzoek om confidentialiteit2024-04-19Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-04-18Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-04-18Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-04-18Not public
GP142024-04-18Not public
GP022024-04-18Not public
GP012024-04-18Not public
GP122024-04-18Not public
GP162024-04-18Not public
GP132024-04-18Not public
GP082024-04-18Not public
GP042024-04-18Not public
GP15.22024-04-18Not public
GP112024-04-18Not public
GP122024-04-18Not public
GP15.22024-04-18Not public
GP062024-04-18Not public
GP15.12024-04-18Not public
Concusie van Antwoord2024-04-18Not public
GP052024-04-18Not public
GP092024-04-18Not public
GP072024-04-18Not public
Concusie van Antwoord2024-04-18Not public
GP15.12024-04-18Not public
GP102024-04-18Not public
GP032024-04-18Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-04-18Not public
Concusie van Antwoord2024-04-18Not public
GP042024-04-18Not public
GP15.12024-04-18Not public
GP062024-04-18Not public
GP122024-04-18Not public
Concusie van Antwoord2024-04-18Not public
GP082024-04-18Not public
GP15.22024-04-18Not public
GP15.12024-04-18Not public
GP112024-04-18Not public
GP052024-04-18Not public
GP022024-04-18Not public
GP072024-04-18Not public
GP122024-04-18Not public
GP032024-04-18Not public
GP092024-04-18Not public
GP132024-04-18Not public
GP162024-04-18Not public
GP102024-04-18Not public
GP012024-04-18Not public
GP142024-04-18Not public
GP15.22024-04-18Not public
Redacted Final Order_7027/20242024-03-05Not public
Final Order R. 3232024-03-05Not public
Final Order2024-03-05Not public
Order Rule 3232024-03-05Public
Order Rule 3232024-03-05Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-03-05Not public
Order Rule 3232024-03-05Public
Order Rule 3232024-03-05Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-03-05Not public
Order Rule 3232024-03-05Not public
Order Rule 3232024-03-05Public
Receipt2024-02-21Not public
Receipt2024-02-21Not public
UPC - ACT_581538_2023 - Jozelf Nelissen _OrthoApnea S.L - Vivisol B BV - 20 January 2024_Rule 49.5 UPCA and 323.1 RoP2024-02-20Not public
Annex 5.ii2024-02-16Not public
Annex 32024-02-16Not public
Annex 12024-02-16Not public
Annex 5.i2024-02-16Not public
Comments request for change of language2024-02-16Not public
Annex 5.iii2024-02-16Not public
Annex 42024-02-16Not public
Annex 5.iv2024-02-16Not public
Annex 22024-02-16Not public
Order Rule 3232024-02-07Not public
Procedural Order Rule 9 RoP2024-01-19Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-01-18Not public
Order Application Rule 2642024-01-18Not public
Receipt2024-01-16Not public
Letter re Spanish translation2024-01-16Not public
Spaanse vertaling van Verklaring van Eis2024-01-16Not public
Verzoek verandering taal2024-01-05Not public
Procedural Order Rule 9 RoP2023-12-23Not public
Notification Of Service2023-12-20Not public
Confirmation of receipt2023-12-20Not public
Notification Of Service2023-12-20Not public
Confirmation of receipt2023-12-20Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2023-12-08Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2023-12-08Not public
Letter for Service2023-11-17Not public
Letter for Service2023-11-17Not public
Panel-Appointment2023-11-17Not public
epoUploadDocumentsWorkflow2023-11-14Not public
Document from EPO2023-11-14Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2023-11-07Not public
Receipt2023-11-07Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2023-11-07Not public
Verklaring van Eis2023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.5d - Email van Spaanse autoriteit dd 17 maart 20232023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.3a - Uittreksel Belgisch octrooiregister2023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.1 - EP 0362023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.6 - Brief OrthoApnea dd 21 september 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk III.4a - LinkedIn post van OrthoApnea iBEDSSMA 20222023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.3 - Aangekochte NOA2023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.4 - 4. Betekening van het Bevel dd. 22 september 2023 aan de Spaanse hoofdzetel van OrthoApnea2023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.2b - Screenshots website OrthoApnea en NOA – Zijaanzicht2023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.1 - Uittreksel handelsregister OrthoApnea2023-11-06Not public
Stuk III.4b - Foto's OrthoApnea iBEDSSMA 20222023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.6 - Bijkomend testrapport in vivo (deel 1 = zoals ondertekend)2023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.5 - Proces-verbaal van de beslagmaatregelen dd. 22 september 20232023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.2a - Screenshots website OrthoApnea en NOA – Vooraanzicht2023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.4 - US 9672023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.2 - Brief van OrthoApnea dd 16 april 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.4 - Brief van OrthoApnea dd 14 juni 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk III.3 - Email aan deelnemers iBEDSSMA 20232023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.3c - Uittreksel Luxemburgs octrooiregister EP 0362023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.1 - Brief van Dhr Nelissen dd 17 maart 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.3 - Betekening van het Bevel dd. 22 september 2023 ter plaatse aan OrthoApnea2023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.3d - Uittreksel Duits octrooiregister2023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.2 - Bevel ex R.192 RoP dd. 21 september 2023 betreffende EP 2 331 0362023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.3a - Brief van Dhr Nelissen dd 18 mei 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.6 - Proces-verbaal van vaststelling distributeur Vivisol B dd. 4 oktober 20232023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.6 - Bijkomend testrapport (deel 2 = niet ondertekend)2023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.5 - Brochure "OrthoApnea NOA"2023-11-06Not public
Formeel Antwoord2023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.4 - Brochure "The solution to sleep apnea and snoring"2023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.3E - Uittreksel Frans octrooiregister2023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.3b - Uittreksel Nederlands octrooiregister EP 0362023-11-06Not public
Stuk II.2c - Screenshots website OrthoApnea en NOA – Occlusaal aanzicht2023-11-06Not public
Stuk III.1 - Uittreksel website iBEDSSMA2023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.1 - Verzoekschrift 574133/2023 dd. 20 september 20232023-11-06Not public
Stuk III.2 - iBEDSSMA 2023 programma2023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.5b - Email deurwaarder aan OrthoApnea dd 6 september 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.3b - Bijlage claim mapping aan brief van Dhr Nelissen dd 18 mei 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.5a - Exploot betekend aan OrthoApnea dd 6 september 20212023-11-06Not public
Stuk I.2 - Vertaling conclusies EP 0362023-11-06Not public
Stuk V.7 - Rapport van de deskundige dd. 28 september 20232023-11-06Not public
Stuk IV.5c - Exploot aan OrthoApnea dd 17 september 20212023-11-06Not public
Verklaring op eer2023-11-06Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2023-10-26Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.1 - Uittreksel handelsregister OrthoApnea2023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.2 - Brief van OrthoApnea dd 16 april 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.3 - Aangekochte NOA2023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.4 - Brochure "The solution to sleep apnea and snoring"2023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.3a - Uittreksel Belgisch octrooiregister2023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.3b - Uittreksel Nederlands octrooiregister EP 0362023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.6 - Brief OrthoApnea dd 21 september 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.3b - Bijlage claim mapping aan brief van Dhr Nelissen dd 18 mei 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.6 - Bijkomend testrapport (deel 2 = niet ondertekend)2023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.2b - Screenshots website OrthoApnea en NOA – Zijaanzicht2023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.2a - Screenshots website OrthoApnea en NOA – Vooraanzicht2023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.4 - 4. Betekening van het Bevel dd. 22 september 2023 aan de Spaanse hoofdzetel van OrthoApnea2023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.1 - EP 0362023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.3a - Brief van Dhr Nelissen dd 18 mei 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk III.4a - LinkedIn post van OrthoApnea iBEDSSMA 20222023-10-23Not public
Stuk III.4b - Foto's OrthoApnea iBEDSSMA 20222023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.3d - Uittreksel Duits octrooiregister2023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.2 - Vertaling conclusies EP 0362023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.6 - Proces-verbaal van vaststelling distributeur Vivisol B dd. 4 oktober 20232023-10-23Not public
Stuk III.1 - Uittreksel website iBEDSSMA2023-10-23Not public
Stuk III.2 - iBEDSSMA 2023 programma2023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.5c - Exploot aan OrthoApnea dd 17 september 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.1 - Brief van Dhr Nelissen dd 17 maart 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.7 - Rapport van de deskundige dd. 28 september 20232023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.5b - Email deurwaarder aan OrthoApnea dd 6 september 20212023-10-23Not public
Verklaring van Eis2023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.5a - Exploot betekend aan OrthoApnea dd 6 september 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.4 - US 9672023-10-23Not public
Stuk III.3 - Email aan deelnemers iBEDSSMA 20232023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.3 - Betekening van het Bevel dd. 22 september 2023 ter plaatse aan OrthoApnea2023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.4 - Brief van OrthoApnea dd 14 juni 20212023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.2c - Screenshots website OrthoApnea en NOA – Occlusaal aanzicht2023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.3c - Uittreksel Luxemburgs octrooiregister EP 0362023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.5 - Proces-verbaal van de beslagmaatregelen dd. 22 september 20232023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.6 - Bijkomend testrapport in vivo (deel 1 = zoals ondertekend)2023-10-23Not public
Stuk I.3E - Uittreksel Frans octrooiregister2023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.2 - Bevel ex R.192 RoP dd. 21 september 2023 betreffende EP 2 331 0362023-10-23Not public
Stuk IV.5d - Email van Spaanse autoriteit dd 17 maart 20232023-10-23Not public
Stuk II.5 - Brochure "OrthoApnea NOA"2023-10-23Not public
Stuk V.1 - Verzoekschrift 574133/2023 dd. 20 september 20232023-10-23Not public
Coverage: Partial.Reasoning extracted with partial coverage — some sections may be incomplete.
Plain-English summary

An anonymised claimant brought an infringement action before the Brussels Local Division against OrthoApnea and Vivisol B BV concerning a patent on a device for treating night-time breathing problems (EP2331036). The court dismissed the action in full, finding neither literal infringement — because the accused products did not meet all claim features when interpreted in context — nor infringement by equivalence, since no functional equivalence was demonstrated. The earlier evidence preservation order was lifted and costs were awarded to the defendants.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • No literal infringement: the accused OrthoApnea products do not meet all claim features when claims are interpreted in light of the claim as a whole

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC and Protocol on Interpretation; Arts. 25-26 UPCA

    Note: The court followed a two-step approach: first assessing literal infringement by interpreting the claims in context, finding one or more features absent.

  • No infringement by equivalence because there is no functional equivalence regardless of which equivalence test is applied

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC Protocol; UPC doctrine of equivalents

    Note: The court held that the absence of functional equivalence is a threshold bar to any equivalence finding, making the choice of test irrelevant.

  • Temporal condition for main proceedings following evidence preservation under R. 198(1) RoP is satisfied if the Statement of Claim is uploaded to CMS within the prescribed period, even if translation and service come later

    RespondentLegal basis: R. 198(1) RoP; R. 271(8) RoP

    Note: This procedural holding favoured neither party substantively but confirmed the claimant had validly brought main proceedings in time.

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

  • Literal infringement of the patent on the medical device (sleep apnea treatment) by OrthoApnea and Vivisol products

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC; Art. 25 UPCA

    Reason: Claim interpretation in light of the claim as a whole showed the accused products did not meet all required features of the claim.

  • Infringement by equivalence of the same patent claims

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC Protocol; doctrine of equivalents

    Reason: No functional equivalence was established, which the court treated as a prerequisite for any equivalence doctrine analysis.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Two-step infringement analysis under Art. 69 EPC: literal infringement first, then equivalence if no literal infringementAbsence of functional equivalence bars any finding of infringement by equivalence regardless of which equivalence test is appliedFor evidence preservation followed by main proceedings, upload of Statement of Claim to CMS within R.198(1) period satisfies the temporal condition even if translation/service is completed later (R.271(8) RoP)Upon dismissal of infringement action, earlier evidence preservation order must be lifted and seized goods returned (R.198(2) RoP)Unsuccessful claimant bears defendant costs; damages from the seizure to be assessed in follow-on proceedings (R.125 RoP)

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

The Brussels Local Division interpreted the claims of the sleep-apnea device patent (EP2331036) in context of the claim as a whole, applying Art. 69 EPC and its Protocol. The court found that one or more features required by the claims were not present in the accused products on literal reading. On equivalence, the court focused on whether the variant performed the same function; finding no functional equivalence, it did not reach other steps of equivalence analysis.