Case Reports

IMC Créations is a French company specialising in anti-theft systems for vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles. Among other things, it sells locks for the side and rear doors of commercial vehicles. Mul-T-Lock belongs to the Assa Abloy group and specialises in high security locking and access control systems, in particular pick-resistant keys and locks. IMC alleged that Mul-T-Lock’s MPV 1000 padlock infringes its unitary patent EP4153830 and the corresponding Swiss national validation.

The dispute arises out of earlier proceedings between Heraeus Electronics GmbH & Co. KG (claimant) and Vibrantz GmbH (defendant), relating to European Patent No. 3215288. The Munich Local Division issued a substantive decision on 10 October 2025 addressing infringement and a counterclaim for revocation. Among other findings, the court partially revoked the patent in three Contracting Member States and dismissed the infringement action. In its cost decision, the court apportioned 40% of the costs to the defendant and 60% to the claimant.

It was foreseen that the requirements of the Unitary Patent Regulation (1257/2012) might result that old European patent applications (effective filing date before 1 March 2007) could be ineligible for unitary patent protection. The UPC has now confirmed the view of the EPO that this is indeed the case.

The UPC Mannheim Local Division revoked Centripetal’s patent relating to automated cyber‑event analysis, finding the claimed combination of static and machine‑learned algorithms anticipated by prior art (HAWK) and additional amendments lacking inventive step. With the patent invalidated in Germany and France, the infringement claim against Palo Alto Networks was dismissed. An appeal to the UPC Court of Appeal remains possible.

The UPC Munich Local Division invalidated Sanofi’s cabazitaxel patent, finding that Phase III clinical trial disclosures created a reasonable expectation of success—departing from the EPO’s earlier conclusion.

The UPC Court of Appeal’s November 2025 decisions in Amgen v. Sanofi and Meril v. Edwards provide the most comprehensive guidance to date on inventive step, claim construction, sufficiency, added matter, and procedural rules. The Court clarified how the “objective problem” should be formulated, reinforced the need for a clear pointer or motivation for obviousness, and aligned many principles with established EPO and national case law. The judgments also address injunctions, proportionality, costs, competence, and amendment admissibility—making them essential reading for anyone navigating UPC litigation.

Hurom v. NUC UPC-CFI_162/2024 LD Mannheim Decision of 2 October 2025

The UPC’s Munich Local Division denied Onward Medical’s bid for a preliminary injunction against Niche Biomedical, finding serious doubts over the novelty of the granted claim of EP 3 421 081 B1 in light of the Yoo prior art. The court also rejected all eight auxiliary claim requests, holding that amended claims cannot be used to establish likely validity in provisional‑measures proceedings. The decision reinforces that interim relief is only available for patents that appear robust in their granted form.

The Unified Patent Court rejected Black Sheep’s request for a declaration of non-infringement (DNI) for an alternative product design. The court found the request inadmissible because HL Display had not asserted infringement against the alternative design, and Black Sheep had not formally sought acknowledgment of non-infringement before filing the counterclaim.

Kodak v. Fujifilm (UPC CoA 699/2025, order of 14 October 2025)[1] According to Art. 82(2) UPCA and Rule 354.3 RoP, a party may be sanctioned with a recurring penalty payment, payable to the UPC, if...

Insulet v. EOFlow UPC_CFI_773/2025 and UPC_CFI 774/2025 (Milan CD), decision of 15 October 2025[1] The dispute began when Insulet sought a provisional injunction against EOFlow to prevent...

Brita v. Aquashield UPC CFI 248/2024 (Munich LD), decision of 22 August 2025[1] UPC CFI 564/2024 (Munich LD), decision of 16 October 2025[2] Brita sued Aquashield and others for infringement of...

This article first appeared in WTR Daily, part of World Trademark Review, in (month/year). For further information, please go to www.worldtrademarkreview.com.

The European Patent Office (EPO) has recently held many online conferences but the real highlight has been the Patent Knowledge week. There were three full days on 28-30 November discussing AI, the...

Introduction This case relates to (as stated by the judge) a "rare dispute as to the construction of a contract where one or both parties do not make some appeal to matters of factual matrix to...

The USPTO has announced a Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program for fast-track examination of qualifying semiconductor-related inventions. The program is designed to support the US CHIPS Act, which...

Lufthansa Technik AG v Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 1306 The Court of Appeal has denied Lufthansa permission to rely on certain arguments at an upcoming damages inquiry...

Clearview AI victorious on a fact specific exemption but what does this judgment mean for the extra territorial effect of the UK GDPR, in particular Article 3(2)(b)? (Clearview AI Inc v The...

The referring Board to G 2/21 has now published its full written decision in T 0116/18, following the issuance of the minutes in September. The Decision attempts to clarify the requirements of G...

Saint-Gobain Adfors S.A.S v 3M Innovative Properties Company [2023] EWHC 2769 (Pat) The High Court has rejected an application made by 3M to restrict Saint-Gobain's use of information disclosed by 3M...

On 21 November 2023 the High Court of England and Wales published its judgment in Emotional Perception AI v Comptroller-General of Patents [2023] EWHC 2948 (Ch) in which it found a patent application...

Lufthansa Technik AG v Panasonic Avionics Corporation [2023] EWCA Civ 1273 The Court of Appeal has granted Panasonic an extension of time to a deadline so that they can rely upon a witness statement...

The High Court has handed down its judgment in Astellas v Teva and Sandoz regarding Astellas' patent covering treatment for overactive bladder.

In this our fifth and final article for Black History Month 2023, we profile Dr Marian Rogers Croak. Dr Marian Rogers Croak is one of a few contemporary black inventors whose work has been...

On 17th October 2023 the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) published a report on a joint study into the impact patents and trademarks can have...

Our fourth article in our series of articles celebrating Black History Month shines a spotlight on the pioneering scientist and inventor, Dr Valerie Thomas.

The European Patent Office (EPO) and International Energy Agency (IEA) have co-authored a report on patenting technology related to hydrogen. Here, Tim Belcher, partner in EIP's Elements team,...