View all cases
UPC CFI 522/2025
Jun 17, 2025·EP2323858 · VARIABLE SURFACE AREA TIRE TREAD
- Case details
- StatusCase Closed (Patent revoked)ActionCounterclaim for revocationCategoryCounterclaim for revocation
- Parties
- Claimants
- Goodyear S.A.Operating co.
- Goodyear France S.A.S.Operating co.
- Goodyear Operations S.A.Operating co.
Representatives- Thierry Lautier-Bird & Bird LLP
Respondents- Compagnie Générale des Etablissements MichelinOperating co.
Representatives- Grégoire Desrousseaux-August Debouzy
- Division
- Paris LD
- Technology
- Mechanical engineeringOther special machines · Transport
- Language
- English
- First decided
- Apr 16, 2026
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.
| Patent revoked | Median days to first decision | |
|---|---|---|
| All UPC | 37% (34/91) | 124 |
| Paris LD | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Camille Lignières | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Carine Gillet | Locked | Locked |
| Judge Stefan Johansson | Locked | Locked |
At the UPC: Goodyear S.A. (3 cases)·Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin (3 cases)
Start 14-day free trialAlready a user? Sign in
Related cases
All proceedings on this patentThis dispute contains 2 other proceedings
Decisions
- 2026-04-16Infringement ActionPublic
Summary: The Paris Local Division entirely revoked European patent EP2323858 (Michelin's 'Variable surface area tire tread' patent), finding Claim 1 lacked novelty over prior art document KUNUGI (JP 2001/063323), and that dependent claims and all 14 auxiliary requests likewise failed to overcome the invalidity. Consequently, Michelin's infringement claims against Goodyear were dismissed, and Michelin was ordered to bear the legal costs.
Show the legal issues (6)
- Novelty (Art. 54 EPC) — anticipation of Claim 1 by prior art KUNUGI (JP 2001/063323)
- Probative value of party-affiliated 'expert' affidavits treated as witness statements
- Claim construction of 'tread element' and 'spacing between lateral sipes'
- Admissibility and validity of 14 auxiliary requests (added matter, clarity, inventive step)
- Reasonable number of auxiliary requests under R. 30.1 RoP
- Revocation of dependent claims 2–14 following invalidity of independent Claim 1
Documents
| Document title | Date | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Case closed | 2026-06-08 | Not public |
| Case closed | 2026-06-08 | Not public |
| Cover sheet | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Statement of rejoinder | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Exhibit document Defendant | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2025-12-15 | Not public |
| Cover sheet | 2025-10-13 | Not public |
| Counterclaim reply | 2025-10-13 | Not public |
| Other document | 2025-10-13 | Not public |
| Receipt | 2025-10-13 | Not public |
| Hearing-Dates | 2025-08-22 | Not public |
| order set the dates IC and OH | 2025-08-22 | Public |
| Hearing-Dates | 2025-08-21 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| 14547-00201-250813-Defence to the counterclaim for revocation final_Partie1 PDFA signed | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| 14547-00201-250813-Defence to the counterclaim for revocation final_Partie2 PDFA signed | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| 14547-00201-250813-Defence to the counterclaim for revocation final_Partie1 PDFA signed | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| 14547-00201-250813-Defence to the counterclaim for revocation final_Partie2 PDFA signed | 2025-08-14 | Not public |
| Document from EPO | 2025-06-18 | Not public |
| Panel-Appointment | 2025-06-17 | Not public |
| EPO-Request-for-case-pending | 2025-06-17 | Not public |
| Acknowledgement-of-lodging | 2025-06-17 | Not public |
| Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome | 2025-06-17 | Not public |
| Authorisation to file submissions and exhibits in a single workflow | 2025-06-17 | Not public |
| Statement of Defence and Counterclaim for Revocation | 2025-06-17 | Not public |