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UPC CFI 702/2024

Nov 21, 2024·EP4153830 +1 more: LOCK COMPRISING A SLIDER WHICH IS FLUSH RELATIVE TO A SOLE PLATE PROVIDED WITH A RECESS FOR RECEIVING A TRANSLATION STOP OF THE SLIDER

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Infringement
Category
Main Infringement Action
Parties
Claimants
Reps: Renaud Gaglione; Henri Bourgeois
Respondents
Reps: Stanislas Roux-Vaillard; Adrien Bonnet
Division
Paris LD
Judges
Technology
Construction · Hardware & Locks
Language
French
First decided
Jan 16, 2026
Claims
At issue1, 6
Maintained1, 6
Amended1, 6
Infringed1, 6
Notes: MVP 1000 padlock found to infringe amended claims 1 and 6 of unitary patent EP 4 153 830; revocation counterclaim of claims 1 and 6 rejected.
Decisions
  • 2026-01-16
    InfringedInjunction grantedInfringement meritsInfringement Action

    Final decision (in French) in infringement action by IMC Créations against Mul-T-Lock France (EP 4 153 830, unitary patent - lock/padlock). Court found that the MVP 1000 padlock infringed the amended claims 1 and 6 of the unitary patent as limited. Revocation counterclaim rejected (claims 1 and 6 of the amended patent valid). Injunction and corrective measures (recall, removal from channels, destruction) ordered, with a 3-month delay before enforcement per parties' agreement. Disclosure of commercial information ordered. Mul-T-Lock to bear 90% of costs. Claims on the Swiss part of the patent rejected. Key headnotes: amended unitary patent takes effect from original grant date; national parts of European patent in non-UPC states assessed against the patent as originally granted.

    Legal issues:Infringement of unitary patent (amended claims)Effect date of unconditional patent limitationNational parts of European patent outside UPC assessed on original claimsCommon general knowledge and non-public documentsInjunction with agreed 3-month delay
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
action.communication.general2026-04-01Not public
action.issueOrder.order2026-03-13Not public
Order2026-03-13Not public
action.communication.general2026-03-13Not public
Receipt2026-03-12Not public
Cover sheet2026-03-12Not public
Application document Defendant2026-03-12Not public
action.issueOrder.order2026-02-16Not public
Order2026-02-16Not public
Receipt2026-02-13Not public
Cover sheet2026-02-13Not public
Application document Defendant2026-02-13Not public
action.communication.general2026-02-13Not public
Receipt2026-02-13Not public
Cover sheet2026-02-13Not public
Application document Claimant2026-02-13Not public
action.issueOrder.order2026-02-02Not public
Order2026-02-02Not public
Receipt2026-01-26Not public
Cover sheet2026-01-26Not public
Other document Claimant2026-01-26Not public
action.phaseChange.caseClose2026-01-16Not public
action.issueDecision.decision2026-01-16Not public
Final Order2026-01-16Public
action.communication.general2026-01-12Not public
Other Documents2026-01-12Not public
action.communication.general2026-01-12Not public
Other Documents2026-01-12Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-18Not public
Other document Defendant2025-12-18Not public
Receipt2025-12-18Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-11Not public
Other document Claimant2025-12-11Not public
Receipt2025-12-11Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-28Not public
Other document Claimant2025-11-28Not public
Receipt2025-11-28Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-28Not public
Other document Defendant2025-11-28Not public
Receipt2025-11-28Not public
action.communication.general2025-11-21Not public
Other Documents2025-11-21Not public
action.phaseChange.oralPhaseOpen2025-11-21Not public
action.phaseChange.interimPhaseClose2025-11-21Not public
action.issueOrder.order2025-11-20Not public
Order2025-11-20Not public
action.phaseChange.interimPhaseOpen2025-11-04Not public
action.phaseChange.writtenPhaseClose2025-11-04Not public
Other Documents2025-11-04Not public
action.communication.general2025-10-23Not public
action.communication.general2025-10-02Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-08-22Not public
Piece HL No. 19a2025-08-22Not public
Mul-T-Lock c. IMC - M. en duplique et replique sur DRN2025-08-22Not public
Piece HL No. 20a2025-08-22Not public
Piece HL No. 20a2025-08-22Not public
Piece HL No. 19a2025-08-22Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-08-06Not public
inadmissibilite2025-08-06Public
OBSERVATIONS EN REPONSE A LA REQUETE DE PROCEDUREAIRE2025-07-22Not public
observ. irrecevab2025-07-16Not public
Receipt2025-07-15Not public
Piece HL No. R.12025-07-09Not public
32624-2025 - Requete de procedure2025-07-09Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-06-25Not public
MEMOIRE EN REPLIQUE ACTION EN CONTREFACON - PIECES JUSTIFICATIVES2025-06-25Not public
MEMOIRE EN REPLIQUE ACTION EN CONTREFACON2025-06-25Not public
Hearing-Dates2025-06-18Not public
dates d'audiences2025-06-18Public
Hearing-Dates2025-06-16Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-05-16Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-04-25Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 162025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 12025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 92025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 7a2025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 82025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 7a2025-04-25Not public
Mul-T-Lock c. IMC - M. en defense et D. reconventionnelle en nullite2025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 172025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 122025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 182025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 62025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 22025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 52025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 142025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 42025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 112025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 152025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 132025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 102025-04-25Not public
Piece HL No. 32025-04-25Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-03-28Not public
withdrawal R2652025-03-28Public
withdrawal R2652025-03-28Not public
Receipt2025-03-27Not public
LETTRE DE DÉSISTEMENT2025-03-26Not public
Headnote-and-Keyword-Translated2025-03-24Not public
Preliminary_Objection_DecisionOutcome2025-03-24Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2025-03-24Not public
PO 21.03.20252025-03-21Public
Template-Order2025-03-21Not public
Comment-On-Preliminary-Objection2025-03-12Not public
REPONSE A OBJECTION PRELIMINAIRE2025-03-12Not public
PIECE 2 - REPONSE A OBJECTION PRELIMINAIRE2025-03-12Not public
PIECE 1 - REPONSE A OBJECTION PRELIMINAIRE2025-03-12Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-03-03Not public
Preliminary-Objection2025-02-28Not public
Piece HL No. P.82025-02-27Not public
Objection preliminaire - competence - EP 8302025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.72025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.72025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.32025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.52025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.92025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.42025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.62025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.102025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.12025-02-27Not public
Piece HL No. P.22025-02-27Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2025-02-19Not public
Notification Of Service2025-02-19Not public
Suivi site La Poste MUL-T-LOCK FRANCE2025-02-19Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2025-02-17Not public
Notification Of Service2025-02-17Not public
Suivi site La Poste MUL-T-LOCK SUISSE2025-02-17Not public
Receipt2025-02-03Not public
DEMANDE PROCEDURALE GENERIQUE 3 FEVRIER 20252025-02-03Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-01-13Not public
communicationCheck2024-11-29Not public
Document from EPO2024-11-28Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-11-26Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2024-11-26Not public
Receipt2024-11-26Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-11-26Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 112024-11-20Not public
MEMOIRE EN DEMANDE - ACTION EN CONTREFAÇON2024-11-20Not public
COPIE DES PIECES JUSTIFICATIVES2024-11-20Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 122024-11-20Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 42024-11-20Not public
LETTRE ACCOMPAGNEMENT2024-11-20Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 22024-11-20Not public
AVIS DE PAIEMENT DES FRAIS DE PROCÉDURE2024-11-20Not public
MEMOIRE EN DEMANDE - REPONSE FORMELLE2024-11-20Not public
MEMOIRE EN DEMANDE MODIFIE2024-11-20Not public
Formal-checks_Request-for-correction2024-11-19Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-11-16Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 42024-11-16Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 22024-11-16Not public
AVIS DE PAIEMENT DES FRAIS DE PROCÉDURE2024-11-16Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 122024-11-16Not public
MEMOIRE EN DEMANDE - ACTION EN CONTREFAÇON2024-11-16Not public
LETTRE ACCOMPAGNEMENT2024-11-16Not public
PIECE JUSTIFICATIVE N° 112024-11-16Not public
Coverage: Partial.Reasoning extracted with partial coverage — some sections may be incomplete.
Plain-English summary

IMC Créations (France) sued Mul-T-Lock France for infringement of unitary patent UP 4 153 830 (a lock with a flush slider and sole plate recess) by the MVP 1000 padlock. The Paris Local Division upheld amended claims 1 and 6 as valid, found direct infringement since November 2023, granted an injunction and corrective measures (with a 3-month delay agreed by the parties), and ordered information disclosure; Mul-T-Lock bears 90% of costs. Claims relating to the non-UPCA Swiss national part were rejected.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Amended claims 1 and 6 of unitary patent UP 4 153 830 are valid (novelty and inventive step confirmed)

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 54, 56 EPC; inventive step; common general knowledge

    Note: Paris Local Division rejected Mul-T-Lock's invalidity challenge to the amended claims, confirming the patent's validity; the court held the skilled person is merely an executor and that non-publicly-accessible documents do not form common general knowledge.

  • MVP 1000 padlock manufactured and marketed by Mul-T-Lock infringes amended claims 1 and 6

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 25 UPCA; direct infringement

    Note: Court found infringement of the amended unitary patent's claims 1 and 6 since 1 November 2023 (the unitary patent's grant date).

  • Amended unitary patent takes effect from the original grant date of the European patent

    ClaimantLegal basis: Headnote 1; unitary patent law

    Note: Court confirmed that an unconditionally amended European patent that became unitary takes effect from the original grant date, not the amendment date.

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

  • Counterclaim for nullity of claims 1 and 6 of the amended patent and subsidiary requests

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC; common general knowledge definition

    Reason: Dismissed in full; non-publicly-accessible documents cannot form common general knowledge; the skilled person has no creative latitude beyond executing what the art teaches.

  • Infringement of the Swiss national part of the patent should also be found

    ClaimantLegal basis: Headnote 2; territorial scope of UPCA

    Reason: Switzerland is not a UPCA member state; infringement of the national Swiss part must be assessed against the patent as originally granted, and there was a non-negligible risk of annulment by Swiss courts after the unconditional amendment; the court rejected that claim entirely.

  • Decision should be disseminated to Mul-T-Lock's customers

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 68 UPCA; proportionality

    Reason: Request for publication of the decision to customers was rejected.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Amended unitary patent takes effect from original European patent grant dateNational parts of a European patent in non-UPCA states assessed against the patent as originally grantedNon-publicly-accessible documents do not constitute common general knowledgeThe skilled person is an executor, not a creative innovatorUnconditional amendment of unitary patent: risk of annulment by non-UPC national courts assessed on original (unamended) claims

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

The amended claims 1 and 6 relate to a lock comprising a slider flush with a sole plate provided with a recess for receiving a translation stop; the slider includes a specific flange/countersink arrangement. The court found these features present in the MVP 1000 padlock. The Swiss national part was denied because the unconditional limitation creates divergence from the originally granted text, raising a risk of invalidity before Swiss courts.