UPClytics

Decisions

DateCaseDivisionActionMotionOutcomeSummary
2024-03-11APL_4881/2024Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyThe Court of Appeal partially upheld Netgear's appeal against the Munich Local Division's order concerning deadlines following Huawei's extension of its infringement action to a second patent, setting the new time limit for Netgear's statement of defence (and any counterclaim for revocation) to 18 April 2024 instead of 11 March 2024, on the basis that due process requires defendants to receive the same full response period as for a new action.
2024-03-11APL_4881/2024Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyOrder from the Court of Appeal (UPC_CoA_36/2024) on Netgear's appeal against the Munich Local Division's order permitting Huawei to expand its infringement action to add EP 3 678 321 alongside EP 3 611 989. The appeal was withdrawn during the interim conference after Huawei agreed to grant Netgear a three-month response period from the original first-instance panel order. The Court ruled on the principle that when a new patent is added by way of case expansion, the defendant must receive the same response period as if a new action had been filed.
2024-03-11APL_5395/2024Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyThe Court of Appeal (second panel) set aside the Munich Local Division's order separating the action based on EP 3 678 321 and established that when a new patent is added to pending proceedings under R. 263 RoP, the defendant must receive the same response time as for a new action.
2024-03-11APL_5395/2024Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyCourt of Appeal procedural order on an appeal against a first-instance order that had severed an amended/expanded infringement claim relating to EP 3678321 from the main action. The appeal concerned the deadline for filing a statement of defence following an amendment of the claim (R. 263 RoP). The Court of Appeal held that, as a matter of due process, when a new patent is added by way of an amended claim, the defendant must be given the same period to respond as would apply if a fresh action had been filed.
2024-03-11UPC_CoA_335/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.1motionName.appeal_decisionPI deniedOrder of the Court of Appeal revoking the Munich Local Division's provisional measures order in favour of NanoString Technologies Inc. and NanoString Technologies Germany GmbH and NanoString Technologies Netherlands B.V. against President and Fellows of Harvard College and 10x Genomics, Inc. concerning EP 4 108 782 (multiplex in situ detection). The Court of Appeal found that the balance of probabilities indicated the patent was likely invalid (lack of inventive step) given prior art D6, such that a sufficient degree of certainty under Rule 211.2 RoP was lacking. Applicants bear costs. The order sets out important principles on patent claim interpretation, claim scope, and the standard for granting provisional measures.
2024-03-11UPC_CoA_335/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.1motionName.appeal_decisionPI deniedCourt of Appeal rectification order correcting a slip in Headnote 2 of the 26 February 2024 order. The corrected headnote confirms that the patent claim is the decisive basis (not merely a starting point) for determining the scope of protection under Art. 69 EPC; the provisional measures application against NanoString was ultimately denied by the CoA as the patent was more likely than not invalid.
2024-03-11UPC_CoA_335/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.1motionName.appeal_decisionPI deniedCourt of Appeal order (26 February 2024, German language version) denying provisional measures against NanoString. The CoA held that the patent was more likely than not invalid, laid down principles on patent claim interpretation under Art. 69 EPC, burden of proof in provisional measure proceedings, and formal requirements under R. 206 RoP.
2024-03-11UPC_CoA_335/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.1motionName.appeal_decisionPI deniedGerman-language rectification order (11 March 2024) correcting a slip in Headnote 2 of the CoA's 26 February 2024 provisional measures order, with corrected formulation of the patent claim interpretation principles under Art. 69 EPC.
2024-02-22UPC_APP_7580/2024Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedThe UPC Court of Appeal dismissed Netgear's request to expedite the appeal and shorten the respondent's time period for filing a statement of response, finding the request too unspecified and insufficiently substantiated given the interests of Huawei and principles of due process in proceedings challenging a separation order.
2024-02-22UPC_APP_7580/2024Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedOrder of the Court of Appeal (Panel 2) rejecting Netgear's application under R. 225(e) / R. 9.3(b) RoP to accelerate the appeal proceedings (against an order bifurcating the case under R. 302.1 RoP in Huawei v Netgear concerning EP 3 678 321). The request was filed on the last day of the time limits for the appeal response, and the court refused to shorten the respondent's (Huawei's) deadline to reply, weighing Huawei's interest in a fair hearing against the risk that the first-instance defence would need to be filed before the appeal outcome.
2024-02-08UPC_CoA_404/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyThe Court of Appeal (Second Panel) ruled that a member of the public who requests access to the register under R. 262.1(b) RoP must be represented before the UPC, as such a person is in an adversarial situation that requires representation. The unrepresented respondent's Statement of Response was disregarded, and the respondent was given time to remedy the lack of representation.
2024-01-11UPC_CoA_486/2023Court of AppealApplication Rop 333ProceduralProcedural onlyCourt of Appeal standing judge (11 January 2024) allowed Netgear's request for discretionary review, permitting Netgear to appeal the CFI judge-rapporteur's order of 11 December 2023, holding that the JR could not himself decide on the admissibility of a R. 333 review application of his own decision. The case was referred to the President of the CoA for assignment to a panel.
2024-01-11UPC_CoA_486/2023Court of AppealApplication Rop 333ProceduralProcedural onlyGerman-language version of the same CoA standing judge order of 11 January 2024 granting Netgear's request for discretionary review and permitting appeal of the JR's 11 December 2023 order.
2024-01-10UPC_CoA_404/2023Court of AppealApplication RoP262.1 (b)ProceduralDismissedOrder of the Court of Appeal dated 10 January 2024 refusing two applications to intervene in the appeal by Ocado against the public register access order. Mathys & Squire LLP and Bristows (Ireland) LLP applied to intervene, arguing they had parallel pending R. 262 applications before the Central Division that raised the same legal issues. The CoA rejected both applications as inadmissible for lack of legal interest in the result of the appeal: a party applicant whose separate R. 262 application is stayed pending the appeal's outcome does not have a sufficient legal interest under the UPC intervention rules, as the outcome of the appeal would not directly and necessarily affect their own applications.
2023-12-20UPC_APP_594342/2023Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedGerman-language Court of Appeal order (Second Panel) rejecting OPPO's request for shortening of the time period for the Statement of Response (R. 9.3(b) RoP) in the appeal concerning the language of proceedings for EP 3 096 315. Same outcome and reasoning as App_594327/2023 and App_594339/2023. Proceedings closed.
2023-12-20UPC_APP_594342/2023Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedEnglish translation of the Court of Appeal order (Second Panel) rejecting OPPO's request for shortening of the time period for the Statement of Response in the appeal concerning the language of proceedings for EP 3 096 315. Same reasoning as App_594327/2023. Proceedings closed.
2023-12-19UPC_APP_594339/2023Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedThe Court of Appeal (Second Panel) rejected OPPO's request for shortening of the time period for lodging a Statement of Response in the appeal concerning the language of proceedings (EP 2 568 724, misidentified in the filing as EP 3 096 315). Same outcome and reasoning as App_594327/2023: request filed on last available day, insufficient time for respondent, contrary to principles of proportionality and fairness. Proceedings closed. This is the German-language version of the order.
2023-12-19UPC_APP_594339/2023Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedEnglish translation of the Court of Appeal order (Second Panel) rejecting OPPO's request for shortening of the time period for the Statement of Response (R. 9.3(b) RoP) in the appeal concerning the language of proceedings for EP 2 568 724. Same reasoning as App_594327/2023. Proceedings closed.
2023-12-18UPC_APP_594327/2023Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))motionName.appeal_decisionDismissedThe Court of Appeal (Second Panel) rejected OPPO's request for shortening of the time period for the respondent's Statement of Response in the appeal concerning the language of proceedings (EP 2 207 270). The CoA found that the request was filed on the last day of the available period, leaving insufficient time for the respondent, and that granting the request would be contrary to principles of proportionality, fairness and equity. The proceedings were closed.
2023-12-18UPC_CoA_472/2023Court of AppealApplication for an Order for expedition of an appeal (RoP225(e))DismissedThe Court of Appeal rejected OPPO/OROPE's application to shorten the time limit for filing the respondent's statement of response in an appeal concerning the language of proceedings (Rule 323 RoP), pursuant to Rule 225(e) and 9.3(b) RoP. The application was filed on the last day of the time limit and did not adequately consider the respondent's (Panasonic's) right to adequate preparation time.
2023-12-11UPC_CoA_404/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyCase management order from the Court of Appeal dated 11 December 2023 in Ocado v. Autostore appeal concerning access to the statement of claim by a third party (GDPR-redacted respondent). The order corrects a CMS error incorrectly designating the Autostore companies as respondents (the respondent is the individual third party applicant). The CoA notes Ocado's submission that four defendants were never served and intends to address this later. The order invites parties to comment on whether R. 8 RoP (representation requirement) applies to the individual respondent who represents himself.
2023-10-13UPC_CoA_320/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyThe Court of Appeal (German language version) addressed the date of service of the Statement of claim and term extensions. The Court held: (1) A Statement of claim can be validly served even if annexes are not simultaneously uploaded, provided the statement alone enables the defendant to assert its rights. (2) If a claimant fails to upload annexes simultaneously with the Statement of claim contrary to R.13.2 RoP, this in itself constitutes sufficient grounds for a defendant's request for term extension (without regard to the nature or content of the annexes). (3) The extension must compensate for the period during which the annexes were unavailable. This is a duplicate/German language version of the same decision published in English (see final-order-appeal-572929-eng_0.pdf).
2023-10-13UPC_CoA_320/2023Court of AppealAppeal RoP220.2motionName.appeal_decisionProcedural onlyThe Court of Appeal (English language version) ruled on the date of service of the Statement of claim and term extensions for preliminary objection and statement of defence. Key holdings: (1) A Statement of claim can be validly served even without annexes, provided it enables the defendant to assert rights before the UPC courts. (2) Non-simultaneous upload of annexes contrary to R.13.2 RoP is itself sufficient for a defendant to request term extension, regardless of the content of the annexes. (3) The extension should equal the period during which annexes were unavailable after service. This is the English version of the same decision (see final-order-appeal-572929-002.pdf for German version).
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