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UPC CFI 829/2024

Dec 20, 2024·EP2611800: METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING SUGAR MIXTURES AND RESULTANT COMPOSITIONS

Case details
Status
Case Closed
Action
Revocation
Category
Main Revocation Action
Parties
Claimants
Reps: Clemens Tobias Steins (Hoffmann Eitle)
Respondents
Reps: Matthew Naylor (Mewburn Ellis LLP)
Division
Munich CD
Judges
Technology
Materials & Chemistry · Catalysts · Biotechnology
Language
English
First decided
Nov 21, 2025
Last decision
Feb 24, 2026
Claims
At issueall
Revokedall
Notes: EP 2 611 800 revoked in its entirety for lack of inventive step; application to amend dismissed.
Decisions
  • 2026-02-24
    RevokedRevocation meritsRevocation Action

    The Central Division (Munich) revoked EP 2 611 800 (sugar compositions) in its entirety for Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden, finding the claims lacked inventive step and the application to amend was dismissed. The defendant bears UPM's costs.

    Legal issues:RevocationInventive stepComposition claims with numerical rangesIntermediate productAmendment application dismissed
  • 2025-11-21
    Revocation Action

    The Central Division (Munich) issued an order following the interim conference under Rule 105.5 RoP in UPM-Kymmene's revocation action against International N&H Denmark ApS, setting the case value at EUR 1,000,000 and confirming the oral hearing date of 15 January 2026.

    Legal issues:Interim conference Rule 105.5 RoPRevocation action
Documents
Document titleDatePublic
Receipt2026-03-16Not public
Cover sheet2026-03-16Not public
Application document Applicant2026-03-16Not public
Decision2026-02-24Public
action.phaseChange.caseClose2026-02-24Not public
action.issueDecision.decision2026-02-24Not public
Decision2026-02-24Not public
Other Documents2026-01-16Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-15Not public
Other document Defendant2025-12-15Not public
Receipt2025-12-15Not public
Cover sheet2025-12-15Not public
Other document Claimant2025-12-15Not public
Receipt2025-12-15Not public
Other Documents2025-12-02Not public
Order2025-12-02Public
action.phaseChange.oralPhaseOpen2025-12-01Not public
action.phaseChange.interimPhaseClose2025-12-01Not public
action.communication.general2025-12-01Not public
action.summons.oralHearing2025-12-01Not public
Summons2025-12-01Not public
Cover sheet2025-11-28Not public
Other document Defendant2025-11-28Not public
Receipt2025-11-28Not public
action.issueOrder.order2025-11-21Not public
Order2025-11-21Not public
action.summons.interimHearing2025-10-31Not public
Order2025-10-31Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-08-04Not public
RoP 36 final order2025-08-04Public
To UPC - reply to preliminary order issued 23 July 20252025-07-28Not public
preliminary order comments2025-07-23Not public
Receipt2025-07-22Not public
Request to exchange further written pleadings2025-07-21Not public
Cover2025-07-21Not public
Rejoinder to the Reply to the Defence to the Application to Amend2025-07-21Not public
Reply-Amend-Patent-Defence2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-29 - Auxiliary request 14a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-26mu - Auxiliary request 6a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-32mu - Auxiliary request 17a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-28mu - Auxiliary request 10a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-31mu - Auxiliary request 16a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-27 - Auxiliary request 9a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-30mu - Auxiliary request 15a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-33mu - Auxiliary request 18a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-29mu - Auxiliary request 14a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-30 - Auxiliary request 15a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-25mu - Auxiliary request 5a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-32 - Auxiliary request 17a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-33 - Auxiliary request 18a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-25 - Auxiliary request 5a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-27mu - Auxiliary request 9a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
To UPC - Response to claimant reply 19 June 20252025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-31 - Auxiliary request 16a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-26 - Auxiliary request 6a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-28 - Auxiliary request 10a2025-06-19Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-26mu - Auxiliary request 6a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-30mu - Auxiliary request 15a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
To UPC - Response to claimant reply 19 June 20252025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-30 - Auxiliary request 15a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-29mu - Auxiliary request 14a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-32 - Auxiliary request 17a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-33 - Auxiliary request 18a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-32mu - Auxiliary request 17a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-27mu - Auxiliary request 9a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-26 - Auxiliary request 6a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-25mu - Auxiliary request 5a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-31mu - Auxiliary request 16a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-29 - Auxiliary request 14a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-28 - Auxiliary request 10a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-33mu - Auxiliary request 18a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-31 - Auxiliary request 16a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-27 - Auxiliary request 9a2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-28mu - Auxiliary request 10a - marked up2025-06-19Not public
Exhibit ME D800-25 - Auxiliary request 5a2025-06-19Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-05-19Not public
HE R800-322025-05-19Not public
Defence to the Application to Amend the Patent2025-05-19Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-05-19Not public
HE R800-322025-05-19Not public
Reply to the Defence to the Statement for Revocation2025-05-19Not public
Hearing-Dates2025-05-15Not public
RoP 28 final order2025-05-15Public
Hearing-Dates2025-05-15Not public
Headnote-and-Keywords2025-03-17Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-03-17Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-03-17Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2025-03-17Not public
Exhibit ME D800-12mu - Auxiliary Request 7 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-20 - Auxiliary Request 15 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-09 - Auxiliary Request 4 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-13 - Auxiliary Request 8 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-10mu - Auxiliary Request 5 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-07 - Auxiliary Request 2 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Application to amend EP8002025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-18 - Auxiliary Request 13 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-22 - Auxiliary Request 17 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-13mu - Auxiliary Request 8 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-20mu - Auxiliary Request 15 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-21 - Auxiliary Request 16 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-24 - Auxiliary Request 19 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-06 - Auxiliary Request 1 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-19 - Auxiliary Request 14 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-16 - Auxiliary Request 11 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-12 - Auxiliary Request 7 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-18mu - Auxiliary Request 13 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-07mu - Auxiliary Request 2 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-22mu - Auxiliary Request 17 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-23mu - Auxiliary Request 18 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-08mu - Auxiliary Request 3 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-19mu - Auxiliary Request 14 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-15mu - Auxiliary Request 10 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-06mu - Auxiliary Request 1 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-23 - Auxiliary Request 18 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-08 - Auxiliary Request 3 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-16mu - Auxiliary Request 11 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-11 - Auxiliary Request 6 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-10 - Auxiliary Request 5 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-09mu - Auxiliary Request 4 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-11mu - Auxiliary Request 6 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-14mu - Auxiliary Request 9 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-24mu - Auxiliary Request 19 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-17 - Auxiliary Request 12 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-15 - Auxiliary Request 10 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-14 - Auxiliary Request 9 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-21mu - Auxiliary Request 16 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-17mu - Auxiliary Request 12 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-09mu - Auxiliary Request 4 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-16 - Auxiliary Request 11 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-18mu - Auxiliary Request 13 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-14 - Auxiliary Request 9 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-03a2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-06mu - Auxiliary Request 1 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-012025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-11mu - Auxiliary Request 6 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-10 - Auxiliary Request 5 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-022025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-08mu - Auxiliary Request 3 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-14mu - Auxiliary Request 9 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-23 - Auxiliary Request 18 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-19mu - Auxiliary Request 14 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-17 - Auxiliary Request 12 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-032025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-20mu - Auxiliary Request 15 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-12 - Auxiliary Request 7 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-19 - Auxiliary Request 14 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-18 - Auxiliary Request 13 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-15 - Auxiliary Request 10 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-24 - Auxiliary Request 19 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-06 - Auxiliary Request 1 (clean).pdf2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-02a2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-05 - OD decision on divisional case2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-16mu - Auxiliary Request 11 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-10mu - Auxiliary Request 5 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-13 - Auxiliary Request 8 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-09 - Auxiliary Request 4 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-12mu - Auxiliary Request 7 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-13mu - Auxiliary Request 8 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-17mu - Auxiliary Request 12 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-20 - Auxiliary Request 15 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Defence to revocation action on EP8002025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-07 - Auxiliary Request 2 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-22 - Auxiliary Request 17 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-11 - Auxiliary Request 6 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-22mu - Auxiliary Request 17 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-24mu - Auxiliary Request 19 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-08 - Auxiliary Request 3 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-04a2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-21 - Auxiliary Request 16 (clean)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-23mu - Auxiliary Request 18 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-042025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-21mu - Auxiliary Request 16 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-15mu - Auxiliary Request 10 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Exhibit ME D800-07mu - Auxiliary Request 2 (marked up)2025-03-14Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2025-03-03Not public
Notification Of Service2025-03-03Not public
Final Order anonymised2025-03-03Not public
Outcome of the Order2025-02-28Not public
305 order2025-02-28Not public
305 order2025-02-28Public
Response to Change of Party2025-02-24Not public
preliminary order 305.2 RoP2025-02-18Not public
Receipt2025-02-17Not public
Exhibit ME 02A2025-02-14Not public
to UPC - application under r3052025-02-14Not public
Exhibit ME 012025-02-14Not public
Notification Of Service2025-01-14Not public
Acknowledgement of access to case2025-01-09Not public
Panel-Appointment2025-01-09Not public
communicationCheck2025-01-03Not public
Document from EPO2025-01-02Not public
Letter-for-Service2025-01-02Not public
Panel-Appointment2024-12-23Not public
EPO-Request-for-case-pending2024-12-23Not public
Acknowledgement-of-lodging2024-12-23Not public
Formal-checks_Notification-of-positive-outcome2024-12-23Not public
HE R800-22024-12-20Not public
HE R800-12024-12-20Not public
HE R800-142024-12-20Not public
HE R800-42024-12-20Not public
HE R800-192024-12-20Not public
HE R800-72024-12-20Not public
HE R800-62024-12-20Not public
HE R800-252024-12-20Not public
HE R800-202024-12-20Not public
HE R800-32024-12-20Not public
HE R800-102024-12-20Not public
HE R800-122024-12-20Not public
HE R800-132024-12-20Not public
HE R800-212024-12-20Not public
HE R800-172024-12-20Not public
HE R800-52024-12-20Not public
HE R800-82024-12-20Not public
Statement for Revocation2024-12-20Not public
HE R800-302024-12-20Not public
HE R800-262024-12-20Not public
HE R800-232024-12-20Not public
HE R800-312024-12-20Not public
HE R800-292024-12-20Not public
HE R800-242024-12-20Not public
HE R800-152024-12-20Not public
HE R800-222024-12-20Not public
HE R800-92024-12-20Not public
HE R800-162024-12-20Not public
HE R800-182024-12-20Not public
HE R800-162024-12-20Not public
HE R800-282024-12-20Not public
HE R800-112024-12-20Not public
HE R800-272024-12-20Not public
Coverage: Partial.Reasoning extracted with partial coverage — some sections may be incomplete.
Plain-English summary

UPM-Kymmene Oyj sought revocation of International N&H Denmark ApS's EP 2 611 800 B1, which claims methods and compositions relating to sugar mixtures. The Munich Central Division revoked the patent in full for Austria, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, finding the composition claims lacked inventive step because the claimed intermediate-product composition had no inextricable link to any inventive process, and both the amendment application and subsequent auxiliary request were dismissed.

Accepted arguments
What the court agreed with — by party.

  • Claims of EP 2 611 800 covering sugar compositions lack inventive step

    ClaimantLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC; problem-solution approach; intermediate product doctrine

    Note: Court accepted UPM-Kymmene's challenge that the composition claims were obvious because absent an inextricable link between the claimed composition and an inventive production process, no inventive step can be found for an otherwise non-inventive composition used as an intermediate product.

  • No inextricable link between the claimed intermediate product composition and an inventive process

    ClaimantLegal basis: Headnote 2; intermediate product doctrine

    Note: Court held that where a composition is relied upon merely as an intermediate product, it can only have inventive step if it is inextricably linked to an inventive process for producing a known end-product — that link was absent here.

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

  • Composition claims are novel and inventive as drafted with numerical ranges of ingredients

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 56 EPC; claim interpretation

    Reason: The patentee bears responsibility for drafting precise composition claims; the numerical ranges did not confer novelty or inventive step over the prior art when the claimed composition was not inextricably tied to an inventive process.

  • Application to amend the patent (unconditional and subsequent auxiliary requests)

    RespondentLegal basis: Art. 65(3) UPCA; R. 30 RoP

    Reason: Both the unconditional amendment application and the subsequent auxiliary request were dismissed; the decision gives no detailed subsidiary reasoning visible in the excerpt.

Key legal principles
Doctrines and rules cited in the reasoning.
Patentee bears responsibility for drafting precise composition claims, particularly numerical rangesIntermediate product doctrine: a composition used as an intermediate lacks inventive step absent an inextricable link to an inventive production processProduct-by-process features: claim interpretation for composition claims containing process-derived markersSubsequent auxiliary amendment requests may be refused permission

Browse other cases on this principle.

Claim construction notes

The court addressed the interpretation of composition claims containing numerical ranges and marker molecules, including product-by-process features. The skilled person was held to expect precision and diligence from the patentee in specifying all components of a claimed composition.