UPC CFI 443/2024
Jul 29, 2024·EP3767151 Unitary patent · CABINET LEVELLING APPARATUS
Action number: ACT 43563/2024
- Case details
- StatusCase ClosedActionProvisional measuresCategoryProvisional measures
- Parties
- Claimants
- Häfele SE & Co KGOperating co.
Representatives- Ulrich Blumenröder-Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartGmbH
- Busch-Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartGmbH
- Dropmannsupporting-Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartGmbH
Respondents- Kunststoff KG Nehl & CoOperating co.
Representatives- Hannes Jacobsen-CBH Rechtsanwälte
- Kammüller-CBH Rechtsanwälte
- Geschkesupporting-Wildanger Kehrwald Graf von Schwerin & Partner mbB
- Dilgsupporting-Dilg, Haeusler, Schindelmann
- Division
- Munich LD
- Technology
- Other fieldsConsumer products · Other consumer goods
- Mechanical engineeringMechanical elements
- Language
- German
- First decided
- Nov 25, 2024
- EPO Opposition
- Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KGWithdrawn2024-07-05
- Kunststoff Kommanditgesellschaft Nehl & CoWithdrawn2025-04-03
| Preliminary injunction granted | Median days to first decision | |
|---|---|---|
| All UPC | 54% (38/70) | 124 |
| Munich LD | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Ulrike Voß | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Daniel Voss | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Walter Schober | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Merja Heikkinen-Keinänen | Locked | Locked |
At the UPC: Häfele SE & Co KG (5 cases)·Kunststoff KG Nehl & Co (3 cases)
This dispute contains 2 other proceedings
- 2024-11-25Application for provisional measuresPublic
Summary: The Local Division Munich denied Häfele's application for provisional measures against Kunststoff KG Nehl & Co for alleged infringement of a patent relating to furniture fittings, finding that serious doubts about patent validity (inventive step, prior art D8) outweighed the likelihood of success and that the balance of interests did not favour an injunction.
Show the legal issues (5)
- Provisional measures – balance of interests
- Inventive step doubts
- Urgency in provisional measures (R.211.4 RoP)
- Patent claim interpretation
- Prosecution history as claim construction tool
| Document title | Date | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated | 2024-12-16 | Not public |
| Headnote-and-Keywords | 2024-11-25 | Not public |
| Measures_DecisionOutcome_Notification.pdf | 2024-11-25 | Not public |
| 2024-11-25 - Anordnung - Zurückweisung Antrag auf einstw. Maßnahmen | 2024-11-25 | Not public |
| 2024-11-25 - Anordnung - Zurückweisung Antrag auf einstw. Maßnahmen | 2024-11-25 | Public |
| Hearing Reference | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| Hearing Reference | 2024-11-22 | Not public |
| summons | 2024-10-15 | Not public |
| Stellungnahme vom 14.10.2024 | 2024-10-14 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 19 - D19 Zahnrad Wikipedia | 2024-10-14 | Not public |
| Stellungnahme | 2024-10-04 | Not public |
| 2024-10-04 Anordnung - Ladung zur mündlichen Verhandlung | 2024-10-04 | Public |
| Template-Order | 2024-10-04 | Not public |
| 2024-09-26 - Stellungnahmefrist zum Einspruch und weitere Erwiderungsfrist | 2024-09-26 | Not public |
| Stellungnahme | 2024-09-24 | Not public |
| 2024-09-17 Anordnung - Hinweis und Ernennung TQR | 2024-09-17 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D11 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D17-2 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D17 - 3 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D10 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D13' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D13 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 7 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 14b | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D14 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D18' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D5' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D6 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 03 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D17 - 1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D19 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D0 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D18' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 12 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D6' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 C | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D17 - 2 - 1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 9 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D7 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D7 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 11 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D2 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 5 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D13 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 10 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D12 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D13' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D15' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D4 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 18 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D6 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D15 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D11 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 4 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 13 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 15 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D9' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D18 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 6 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 01 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D17-3 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D0 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 6 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D9' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 04 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D8 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D4' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D2 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 14a | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D14' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D5 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D5 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D5' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 8 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D10 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 02 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D9 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D9 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D12 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D14' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D18 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 7 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 2 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D3 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D4 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 3 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D16 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D19 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D8 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D14 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Einspruch Antragsgegnerin | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 A | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D15 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D15' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D17-1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D17 -2 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D3 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D6' | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 B | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 17 - 5 - D16 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 8 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 16 D17-2-1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Anlage CBH 1 | 2024-09-12 | Not public |
| Notification Of Service | 2024-08-21 | Not public |
| Zustellnachweis | 2024-08-21 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement of access to case | 2024-08-16 | Not public |
| Letter for Service | 2024-08-08 | Not public |
| 2024-08-08 Anordnung Unterlagen zwecks ZU an AG einzureichen | 2024-08-08 | Public |
| 2024-08-08 Anordnung Frist für Einspruch nach R.209 (1) | 2024-08-08 | Not public |
| Panel-Appointment | 2024-08-08 | Not public |
| 2024-08-07 Anordnung mit Frist fuer Einspruch gem §.209(1) lit a | 2024-08-07 | Public |
| Template-Order | 2024-08-07 | Not public |
| Stellungnahme | 2024-08-07 | Not public |
| 2024-08-06 Frist zur Stellungnahme zu Absicht, AG zu hören, R 209 (4) | 2024-08-06 | Not public |
| 2024-08-06 St.-N.-Frist zu Absicht, rechtl Gehör zu gewähren, R 209 (4) | 2024-08-06 | Not public |
| 2024-08-06 St.-N.-Frist zu Absicht, rechtl Gehör zu gewähren, R 209 (4) | 2024-08-06 | Not public |
| Panel-Appointment | 2024-08-06 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt25 | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| Stellungnahme | 2024-08-05 | Not public |
| 2024-08-01 Anordnung mit Frist zur Klarstellung des Antrags | 2024-08-02 | Public |
| Panel-Appointment | 2024-08-01 | Not public |
| Application-For-Measures-Receipt | 2024-08-01 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2024-08-01 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt11 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt8 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt4 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt20 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt16 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt24 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt1 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt21 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt17 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt3 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt19 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt10 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt15 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt9 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Antrag auf Erlass einer einstweiligen Verfügung | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt6 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt14 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt18 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Schriftsatz | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt7 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt5 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt12 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt2 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt22 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt23 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt13 | 2024-07-31 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Request-for-correction | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Application-For-Measures-Acknowledgement | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt13 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt20 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt10 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt12 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt22 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt11 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt9 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt16 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt8 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt15 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt18 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt2 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt23 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt5 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt4 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt21 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt7 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt24 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt1 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt6 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt19 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt3 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt17 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Anlage ASt14 | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
| Antrag auf Erlass einer einstweiligen Verfügung | 2024-07-26 | Not public |
Häfele SE & Co KG sought provisional measures against Kunststoff KG Nehl & Co before the Munich Local Division for alleged infringement of a patent relating to a motorised tool for adjusting height-adjustable furniture legs. The court denied the injunction, finding serious doubts about patent validity because prior art D8 (and D9) plausibly disclosed the key feature distinguishing the patent (motor positioned between handle and drive element), and rejecting the claimant's reliance on the EPO's different claim construction as inadmissible prosecution history. The balance of interests accordingly did not favour provisional relief.
Patent validity is doubtful in light of prior art D8 disclosing features 1.1 to 3.2.1 and 4 to 6 of claim 1, and possibly also feature 3.2.2 (motor positioned between handle and drive element)
RespondentLegal basis: Novelty / inventive step under EPCNote: Court found serious doubts about inventive step/novelty of the asserted patent given D8's disclosure, meaning the balance of interests did not favour an injunction.
Balance of interests does not favour provisional injunction where there are serious doubts about patent validity and probability of erroneous decision is material
RespondentLegal basis: R. 211 RoP; R. 211.4 RoPNote: Court held the probability of error and the interests of defendant in not being subject to an erroneous injunction outweighed claimant's interests in interim protection.
Application for provisional measures for infringement of patent relating to furniture fittings (height-adjustable leg installation tool)
ClaimantLegal basis: R. 211 RoPReason: Court found serious doubts as to patent validity based on prior art D8 (and D9), which plausibly disclosed feature 3.2.2 (motor between handle and drive element); these doubts outweighed the likelihood of success and meant the balance of interests did not favour Häfele.
EPO Examining Division's view (expressed during third-party observation proceedings) that D8 did not disclose feature 3.2.2 settles the claim construction question
ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC; prosecution history exclusion from claim constructionReason: Court held that the EPO Examining Division's statement does not resolve doubts because it appeared to apply a different claim construction linked to a deleted passage in the description, and the EPO's view is not binding on the UPC in invalidity proceedings.
Browse other cases on this principle.
- D8Novelty-destroying
- ITRE 20100070 A1 (D9)Novelty-destroying
The patent claimed a tool for installing height-adjustable furniture legs, with claim 1 requiring (inter alia) a motor positioned between the handle and the drive element (feature 3.2.2). The Munich Local Division held that D8's figures 1 and 2 plausibly disclose this feature: the housing (grip) extends axially beyond the motor, the rearmost part of the housing can reasonably be construed as the handle, and the motor is thus positioned between handle and drive element. The court rejected the EPO Examining Division's narrower construction (apparently based on a deleted description alternative) and held that prosecution history is generally inadmissible under Art. 69 EPC.