2024-04-30 - CD Paris - BITZER Electronics v. Carrier - UPC_CFI_263/2023
- Aktenzeichen:
- UPC_CFI_263/2023
- Datum:
- Spruchkörper:
- Court of First Instance - Paris (FR) Central Division - Seat
- Art:
- Order
- Parteien:
- Carrier Corporation v. BITZER Electronics A/S
Kernaussage: The request to amend a patent must refer to claims that have been challenged and, therefore, it is inadmissible to the extent that it concerns unchallenged claims.
2024-04-30 - CD Paris - BITZER Electronics
v.
Carrier - UPC_CFI_263/2023
The request to amend a patent must refer to claims that have been challenged and, therefore, it is inadmissible to the extent that it concerns unchallenged claims.
landmark
In a landmark ruling on the scope of patent amendment in UPC revocation proceedings, the Central Division (Paris Seat) panel set aside the judge-rapporteur's 5 April 2024 order and declared Carrier's R. 30/50 RoP application to amend the patent inadmissible to the extent it concerned claims beyond the single claim (claim 1) challenged by BITZER. The panel held that the right to amend the patent under R. 30/50 RoP is a defensive tool only — a patent proprietor may amend its patent only to the extent necessary to react to the invalidity challenge; it may not introduce new subject-matter that broadens the scope of proceedings. The panel expressly declined to follow EPO practice (which permits amendments to unchallenged claims) because the UPC is a judicial body bound by the scope of the dispute, not an administrative body assessing patentability. This approach aligns with the 'German national approach' and with the principle of proportionality under the RoP. The panel further declined to set a separate hearing, disposing of the admissibility issue directly.
Stichwörter
Request to amend the patent; unchallenged claims