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UPC CFI 459/2023

Dec 1, 2023·EP2011218 · BOOST POWER FACTOR CORRECTION CIRCUIT (BOOST PFC)

Action number: ACT 590302/2023

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Case details
Status
Case Closed (No infringement)
Action
Infringement
Category
Main infringement action
Parties
Claimants
Representatives
Division
Dusseldorf LD
Judges
Technology
  • Electrical engineering
    Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
Language
German
First decided
Mar 7, 2025
How this compares
The court's record for this kind of case, counted in first-instance rulings. A figure in brackets is the number of rulings a rate rests on.
Infringement foundMedian days to first decision
All UPC53% (62/117)124
Dusseldorf LDLockedLocked
Judge Berenice ThomLockedLocked
Judge Peter AgergaardLockedLocked
Judge Christoph SchoberLockedLocked
Judge Sabine KlepschLockedLocked

At the UPC: Tridonic GmbH & Co KG (4 cases)·CUPOWER Shenzhen Xiezhen Electronics Co., Ltd (3 cases)

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Related cases
All proceedings on this patent

This dispute contains 2 other proceedings

CC 16360/2024·UPC APP 13218/2025

1 other defendants litigating the same or a related patent

UPC CFI 580/2025

Start a free trial to see how each one ended.

More cases: Dusseldorf LD·2023

Decisions
  • 2025-08-22
    Public

    Summary: Düsseldorf Local Division suspended the file access proceedings under R.262.1(b) RoP concerning the Tridonic/CUPOWER infringement case, pending ongoing settlement negotiations in the parallel main proceedings, with consent of all parties.

    Show the legal issues (1)
    • Suspension of file access proceedings pending settlement negotiations (R.295(d) / R.296.2 RoP)
  • 2025-03-07
    Infringement ActionPublic

    Summary: Düsseldorf Local Division full merits judgment in an infringement action by Tridonic GmbH & Co KG against CUPOWER entities concerning EP 2 011 218 B1 (a patent relating to LED driver/control circuits). The court dismissed the infringement action in its entirety, finding that the accused LED power supply products do not fulfil feature 7.4 of the patent (decoupling element) because the capacitor C3 in the defendants' design does not achieve the complete electrical separation required by the claim – it remains continuously connected to the control unit regardless of switch state. The defendants' counterclaim for revocation was also dismissed (patent maintained). Costs were split: claimant bears costs of the infringement action; defendants bear costs of the revocation counterclaim equally.

    Show the legal issues (5)
    • Non-infringement of apparatus claim (feature 7.4 – decoupling element)
    • Claim construction – meaning of 'Entkoppelung' (complete electrical separation)
    • Late submissions during oral hearing
    • Joint handling of infringement and revocation counterclaim
    • Cost allocation between infringement action and counterclaim
  • 2024-06-21
    Public

    Summary: Düsseldorf Local Division early procedural order (R. 37.2 RoP) in Tridonic GmbH & Co KG's infringement action against CUPOWER entities concerning EP 2 011 218 B1 (same case as the later final decision). The court decided to handle both the infringement action and the revocation counterclaim jointly (Art. 33(3)(a) UPCA) before the close of the written proceedings, for reasons of procedural economy and to allow early assignment of a technically qualified judge.

    Show the legal issues (2)
    • Joint handling of infringement and revocation counterclaim (Art. 33(3)(a) UPCA / R. 37.2 RoP)
    • Early procedural order
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Acknowledgement-of-change-of-a-representative2025-08-13Not public
Application-RoP293-Receipt2025-08-13Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-08-13Not public
Application-RoP2932025-08-06Not public
HE012025-08-06Not public
250806_Antrag_Vertreterwechsel_33805_sig2025-08-06Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2025-04-09Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-04-09Not public
Teilweise Berichtigung2025-04-09Public
20250401_Tridonic-Cupower_StN_Entscheidungsberichtigung2025-04-01Not public
20250401_Tridonic-Cupower_StN_Entscheidungsberichtigung2025-04-01Not public
Gelegenheit zur Stellungnahme2025-03-18Not public
Receipt2025-03-18Not public
Antrag auf Entscheidungsberichtigung2025-03-18Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2025-03-07Not public
DecisionOutcome2025-03-07Not public
Entscheidung2025-03-07Public
Verlegung VT2025-02-19Public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S042025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S012025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S022025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S022025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S032025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S042025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S012025-01-24Not public
590302-2023_OH_DUS-LOC_UPC202501170930AM_S032025-01-24Not public
Interim-Procedure-Closure2025-01-23Not public
Summon-Oral-Hearing2025-01-23Not public
Technische Gründe2025-01-23Public
Hearing-Dates2025-01-23Not public
Technische Gründe2025-01-22Public
D_3a2025-01-16Not public
WKS_72025-01-16Not public
20250116_Tridonic_Cupower_Stellungnahme_vor_VT2025-01-16Not public
WKS_82025-01-16Not public
D_7c2025-01-16Not public
D_7c2025-01-16Not public
WKS_82025-01-16Not public
D_3a2025-01-16Not public
WKS_72025-01-16Not public
20250116_Tridonic_Cupower_Stellungnahme_vor_VT2025-01-16Not public
Erwiderung_auf_Verfahrensanordnung2025-01-15Not public
Anordnung Zwischenverfahren2025-01-14Not public
Anordnung Zwischenverfahren2025-01-14Not public
Written-Procedure-Closure2025-01-14Not public
Hearing-Dates2024-10-31Not public
Ladung mündlichen Verhandlung2024-10-31Public
20240918_Tridonic_Cupower_App_51100_2024_Antrag_nach_R_36_VerfO2024-09-18Not public
Anhörung R. 36 VerfO2024-09-11Not public
Anhörung R. 36 VerfO2024-09-11Not public
Receipt2024-09-10Not public
Anlage K192024-09-10Not public
Anlage K182024-09-10Not public
Antrag auf Zulassung eines weiteren Schriftsatzes2024-09-10Not public
Schriftsatz2024-09-10Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-08-12Not public
WKS_6a2024-08-12Not public
20240812_Tridonic_Cupower_ACT_590302_2023_Duplik2024-08-12Not public
WKS_62024-08-12Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-08-12Not public
20240812_Tridonic_Cupower_ACT_590302_2023_Duplik2024-08-12Not public
WKS_6a2024-08-12Not public
WKS_62024-08-12Not public
Hearing-Dates2024-07-15Not public
Bestimmung Termin zur mündlichen Verhandlung2024-07-15Public
20240712_Tridonic_Cupower_ACT_590302_2023_Stellungnahme2024-07-12Not public
20240712_Tridonic_Cupower_ACT_590302_2023_Stellungnahme2024-07-12Not public
Bestaetigung Verhandlungstermin2024-07-08Not public
Anhörung R. 28 VerfO2024-07-05Not public
Template-Order2024-07-05Not public
Template-Order2024-07-05Not public
Hearing-Dates2024-07-05Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-07-04Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2024-06-21Not public
Anordnung R. 37.2 VerfO i.V.m. Art. 33 Abs. 3 lit. a) EPGÜ2024-06-21Public
20240620_Tridonic_Cupower_Stellungnahme_Verfahrensanordnung2024-06-20Not public
20240620_Tridonic_Cupower_Stellungnahme_Verfahrensanordnung2024-06-20Not public
Stellungnahme zu Verfahrensanordnung2024-06-19Not public
Anhörung R. 37 VerfO2024-06-19Not public
Template-Order2024-06-19Not public
Anhörung R. 37 VerfO2024-06-19Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-06-18Not public
Fristverlängerung2024-06-18Public
Outcome of the Order2024-06-18Not public
Fristverlängerung2024-06-18Public
Stellungnahme zu Fristverlaengerungsantrag2024-06-18Not public
Stellungnahme zu Fristverlaengerungsantrag2024-06-18Not public
2024-06-142024-06-14Not public
2024-06-14 Pre Order Stellgn FristV2024-06-14Not public
Template-Order2024-06-14Not public
Receipt2024-06-14Not public
Receipt2024-06-14Not public
20240613_Fristverlängerungsantrag_Duplik2024-06-13Not public
20240613_Fristverlängerungsantrag_Duplik2024-06-13Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-06-03Not public
Anlage K162024-06-03Not public
Anlage K172024-06-03Not public
Anlage K152024-06-03Not public
Anlage K152024-06-03Not public
Replik2024-06-03Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-06-03Not public
Anlage K162024-06-03Not public
Anlage K172024-06-03Not public
Anlage K152024-06-03Not public
Replik2024-06-03Not public
Anlage K152024-06-03Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-04-02Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-04-02Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-03-28Not public
WKS_22024-03-28Not public
WKS_32024-03-28Not public
WKS_42024-03-28Not public
20240328_Tridonic_Cupower_ACT_590302_2023_Klageerwiderung2024-03-28Not public
WKS_52024-03-28Not public
WKS_12024-03-28Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-03-28Not public
WKS_12024-03-28Not public
WKS_52024-03-28Not public
WKS_22024-03-28Not public
WKS_32024-03-28Not public
WKS_42024-03-28Not public
20240328_Tridonic_Cupower_ACT_590302_2023_Klageerwiderung2024-03-28Not public
Outcome of the Order2024-01-25Not public
Zurückweisung Fristverlängerungsantrag2024-01-25Not public
Zurückweisung Fristverlängerungsantrag2024-01-25Not public
Zurückweisung Fristverlängerungsgesuch2024-01-25Not public
Erwiderung auf Fristverlängerungsantrag2024-01-23Not public
R.9 Pre Ord Fristverlaengerungsantrag2024-01-21Not public
Receipt2024-01-19Not public
20240119 Tridonic Cupower ACT590302/2023 Fristverlängerungsantrag2024-01-19Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2024-01-09Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2024-01-09Not public
Notification Of Service2023-12-28Not public
Zustellung_B22023-12-28Not public
Notification Of Service2023-12-28Not public
Zustellung_B12023-12-28Not public
epoUploadDocumentsWorkflow2023-12-21Not public
Document from EPO2023-12-21Not public
Letter for Service2023-12-15Not public
Letter for Service2023-12-15Not public
Panel-Appointment2023-12-15Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2023-12-15Not public
Receipt2023-12-15Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2023-12-15Not public
Klageschrift2023-12-15Not public
Anlage K72023-12-15Not public
Schriftsatz zur Nachreichung der Anlagen2023-12-15Not public
Anlage K122023-12-15Not public
Anlage K52023-12-15Not public
Anlage K42023-12-15Not public
Anlage K12023-12-15Not public
Anlage K112023-12-15Not public
Anlage K22023-12-15Not public
Anlage K62023-12-15Not public
Anlage K102023-12-15Not public
Anlage K112023-12-15Not public
Anlage K32023-12-15Not public
Anlage K82023-12-15Not public
Anlage K142023-12-15Not public
Anlage K132023-12-15Not public
Anlage K92023-12-15Not public
Extension R. 16.3 (a) deadline2023-12-12Not public
Template-Order2023-12-12Not public
Receipt2023-12-11Not public
Antrag auf Fristverlaengerung2023-12-11Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2023-12-04Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2023-11-30Not public
Klageschrift2023-11-30Not public
Plain-English summary

Tridonic GmbH & Co KG sued CUPOWER entities in the Düsseldorf Local Division for infringement of EP 2 011 218 B1, a Boost Power Factor Correction Circuit patent for LED drivers. The court dismissed the infringement action after finding that the accused products' capacitor C3 did not achieve the 'complete electrical separation' required by feature 7.4 (decoupling element), while simultaneously dismissing the defendants' revocation counterclaim. Costs of the infringement action were awarded to defendants; costs of the revocation counterclaim were awarded to claimant.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Accused products do not fulfil feature 7.4 (decoupling element) of EP 2 011 218

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 69 EPC (claim construction); Art. 25 UPCA

    Note: The Düsseldorf Local Division held that the capacitor C3 in defendants' LED power supply design does not achieve the complete electrical separation required by the patent's 'decoupling element'; it remains continuously connected to the control unit regardless of switch state, so only one signal at one pin of the control unit is not achieved as required.

  • New invalidity attacks raised for the first time at oral hearing are inadmissible due to front-loaded UPC procedure

    ClaimantLegal basis: Preamble 7 RoP; R. 55 RoP

    Note: The court refused to consider new invalidity attacks raised strategically at oral hearing for surprise effect, finding this incompatible with the UPC's procedure against strategic surprise tactics.

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

  • Defendants' LED power supply products infringe EP 2 011 218 B1

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

    Reason: The court found that the accused products do not realise feature 7.4 of the patent — the decoupling element — because capacitor C3 does not achieve complete electrical separation between the switch signal and the control unit; both measurement circuits remain continuously connected to the control unit pin, so the patent's requirement of only one current signal arriving at one pin is not met.

  • Patent EP 2 011 218 is invalid (counterclaim for revocation)

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 65 UPCA

    Reason: The revocation counterclaim was dismissed; the patent was maintained as valid.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
purposive claim construction of 'decoupling element'front-loaded proceedings prohibit strategic new attacks at oral hearingcosts follow the event per Art. 69(1) UPCA; split where each party succeeds on part

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

The court construed 'decoupling element' in feature 7.4 of EP 2 011 218 as requiring complete electrical separation, such that only one current signal at a time arrives at one pin of the control unit. The accused design's capacitor C3 does not achieve this because it responds to any voltage change across the switch — whether open or closed — and thereby applies a voltage level through the signal path in both states, meaning both measurement circuits remain continuously connected to the control unit pin simultaneously.