Germany: Patent

This case examines the liability of an EU Authorized Representative under the Medical Device Regulation as an intermediary in patent infringement proceedings, even when they are not direct infringers. The court addresses critical procedural questions including deemed acceptance of jurisdiction, the consequences of non-attendance at oral hearings, and the discretion to refuse stays despite pending CJEU referrals.

The Düsseldorf Local Division partially upheld a patent relating to multimedia content sharing in peer-to-peer configurations and found indirect infringement by Disney's streaming service. The decision addresses critical issues of claim construction, patent validity, and procedural aspects while applying established UPC case law on inventive step testing.

The Munich Central Division of the Unified Patent Court addressed critical procedural and substantive questions in a revocation action concerning European Patent EP 4 226 039. The court examined the burden of proof required to establish lack of entitlement under Art. 138(1)(e) EPC, the court's discretion to assess dependent claims in stand-alone revocation proceedings, and the evidentiary value of Wayback Machine screenshots for proving public availability of online prior art.

A Munich Local Division ruling addresses whether a counterclaim for patent revocation that transitions from unconditional to conditional status—dependent on a finding of infringement—remains subject to unconditional limitation requirements under Rule 263.3 of the Rules of Procedure. The case involves Papst Licensing's infringement action against Roborock entities concerning EP 3 030 943, with implications for procedural strategy in UPC patent disputes.

The UPC Court of Appeal has issued its first comprehensive guidance on handling infringement claims based on non-UPC patent designations, establishing a structured framework for exercising extra-territorial jurisdiction. This landmark decision clarifies when the UPC will accept jurisdiction over foreign patent designations and under what conditions it will rule on infringement, with significant implications for patent holders and multinational defendants operating across European borders.

The Hamburg Local Division of the Unified Patent Court addresses an application for provisional measures in patent infringement proceedings involving a European patent related to child safety products. The case involves Cybex GmbH seeking interim relief against NUNA International B.V. and Allison GmbH under the Rules of Procedure governing urgent patent disputes.

The Munich Local Division of the Unified Patent Court addressed critical procedural questions in provisional measures proceedings, examining how prior knowledge of infringement allegations from parallel litigation in other jurisdictions affects the timeline for preparing objections. The court's decision establishes important precedents for balancing swift relief against the fundamental rights of respondents in cross-border patent disputes.

The Local Division Düsseldorf issued a procedural order addressing service of a statement of claim under The Hague Convention when Chinese authorities indicate a defendant refuses to accept documents. The order clarifies whether such refusal constitutes sufficient service and examines the application of Rule 275.2 RoP for immediate service without requiring alternative methods under Rule 275.1 RoP.

The Unified Patent Court's Court of Appeal examines procedural rules governing appeals in patent litigation between Lionra Technologies Ltd. and Cisco Systems. This case involves the interpretation and application of specific Rules of Procedure in the context of an appeal from a first instance decision concerning European Patent EP 2 201 740.