Table of Contents 1. Introduction CLAUDIA MILBRADT 1 2. The European Patent with Unitary Effect and its Enforcement ANETTE GARTNER 3 2.1 Background 4 2.1.1 The European Patent: A "Bundle" of National Patents 4 2.1.2 "Enhancing the Patent System in Europe" 5 2.1.3 Resorting to the Enhanced Cooperation Procedure 6 2.1.4 Opinion 1/09 and its Implications 7 2.2 The Current Proposals and Their Implications for IP Owners 8 2.2.1 Granting and Administration of European Patents with Unitary Effect 8 2.2.2 Enforcement of European Patents with Unitary Effect 10 2.3 Conclusion 12 2.4 Post Scriptum 13 3. Requirements for Patentability and Term of Protection HENRIK VAN VOLXEM, CLAUDIA MILBRADT 15 3.1 Patent Definition 15 3.1.1 Invention 16 3.1.2 Novelty 17 3.1.3 Inventive Step 19 3.1.4 Industrial Application 21 3.2 Patent Categories 22 3.2.1 Product Patents 23 3.2.2 Process Patents 24 3.2.3 Application Patents for Devices and Usage Patents (Anwendungs- und Venuendungspatente) 26 3.3 Term of Protection 28 3.4 Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) 30 3.4.1 Requirements for the Grant of an SPC 32 3.4.2 Lapse of an SPC 35 3.4.3 Legal Nature and Scope of Protection 36 3.4.4 Combination Products 37 http://d-nb.info/1024506452
VI TABLE OF CONTENTS 4. Exclusions from Patentability WOLFGANG SCHONIG 41 4.1 General Exceptions to Patentability 41 4.1.1 Non-Patentable Subject Matter 41 4.1.2 Public Policy or Morality 45 4.2 Biotechnological Inventions 46 4.2.1 Non-Patentability of the Human Body 47 4.2.2 Gene Sequences 51 4.2.3 Patentability of Plants and Animals 55 4.2.4 Scope of BioTech Patents 59 4.3 Methods for Surgical or Therapeutic Treatment and Diagnostics 62 4.3.1 Methods for Surgical or Therapeutic Treatment 63 4.3.2 Diagnostic Methods 63 5. Scope of Patent Protection CLAUDIA MILBRADT 65 5.1 Interpretation of the Patent 65 5.1.1 Basic Rules to Detect the Literal Interpretation of the Patent 65 5.1.2 Interpretation According to the Doctrine of Equivalence 68 5.2 Limitation of Patent Protection by Means of Exhaustion 71 6. Competencies LISA SIMON 77 6.1 Introduction: The German Separation Principle 77 6.2 Competencies and Structure of Courts 77 6.2.1 Material Jurisdiction (Competence Ratione Materiae) 77 6.2.2 Local Jurisdiction 81 6.2.3 Representation Before Courts 82 6.3 International Jurisdiction (Disputes with Exterritorial Link) 83 6.3.1 Special Provisions with Regard to Patent Disputes 83 6.3.2 The Brussels Regime 85 7. Civil Actions to Enforce Patent Rights CLAUDIA MILBRADT 93 7.1 The Question of the Right of Action 93 7.1.1 Proprietor of a Patent 93 7.1.2 Licencees 95 7.1.3 Others 96
TABLE OF CONTENTS VII 7.2 Identifying Possible Infringers and Infringements 96 7.2.1 Types of Infringement and Infringing Actions 97 7.2.2 Authorisation Enquiry (Berechtigungsanfrage) 104 7-2.3 Claim for Information (Auskunftsanspruch) 105 7.2.4 Inspection Claim (Besichtigungsanspruch) (Wolfgang Schonig) 106 7.2.5 Test Purchases 119 7.3 Warning Letter 120 7.3.1 Legal Prerequisites and Particularities 121 7.3.2 Legal Risks of Unjustified Warning Letters 125 7.3.3 Reaction of the Addressee 127 7.3.4 Warning Letters via E-Mail 127 7 4 Preliminary Injunction 130 7.4.1 Preliminary Injunctions vs. Actions on the Merits 130 7.4.2 Legal Prerequisites and Particularities 131 7.4.3 Duration 140 7.4.4 Strength of Preliminary Proceedings in Germany 140 7.4.5 Expiry of the Term 142 7.4.6 Possible Risks of Enforcing Preliminary Injunctions 142 7.4.7 Reaction of a Potential Infringer 145 7.5 Proceedings on the Merits 148 7.5.1 Introduction 148 7.5.2 Legal Prerequisites and Particularities 149 7.5.3 Cornerstones of Patent Court Proceedings in Germany 149 7.5.4 Possible Claims and Their Particularities 156 7.5.5 Possible Reaction and Defence Strategies During Proceedings 169 7.5.6 Limitation of the Wording of Claims During Proceedings 178 7.5.7 Remedies After Judgements (Appeals) 180 7.5.8 Duration of Proceedings on the Merits 185 8. Execution of Judgements on Infringement ANJASCHWARZ 187 8.1 Introduction 187 8.2 General Information on the Execution Proceeding 187 8.2.1 General Principles 187 8.2.2 Applicable Provisions and Prerequisites 189 8.2.3 Different Types of Execution and Competencies 191 8.3 Execution of Domestic Patent Claims in Germany 193 8.3.1 Execution of Claims to Substantiate an Infringement of a Patent 193
VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS 8.3.2 Execution of Claims for Infringement of a Patent 195 8.4 Recognition and Enforcement of International Titles in Germany and the European Union 202 8.4.1 Introduction 202 8.4.2 Recognition of Decisions 204 8.4.3 Execution of Foreign Decisions 208 9. Other Tools to Enforce Patent Rights CLAUDIA MILBRADT, HEINER HUGGER 213 9.1 Customs Actions 213 9.1.1 Legal Prerequisites 214 9.1.2 Application Details 216 9.1.3 Reaction of a Potential Infringer 216 9.2 Criminal Action (Heiner Hugger) 218 9.2.1 Coercive Measures 219 9.2.2 Requirements for the Initiation of Criminal Proceedings 221 9.2.3 Criminal and Regulatory Sanctions 223 9.2.4 Prosecution of Patent Infringement at the EU Level 224 10. Nullity Proceedings ANJA SCHWARZ 227 10.1 Introduction 227 10.2 Overview - Competencies and Structure of Courts 227 10.2.1 Material Jurisdiction 227 10.2.2 Federal Patent Court 228 10.2.3 Federal Supreme Court 229 10.3 Proceeding 231 10.3.1 Nullity and Infringement Proceedings 231 10.3.2 Opposition and Nullity Proceedings 231 10.3.3 Basic Principles of Nullity Proceedings 233 10.3.4 Modernisation of the Patent Law 234 10.3.5 Procedural Aspects 235 10.3.6 Proceeding in the First Instance 239 10.3.7 Proceeding in the Second Instance 244 10.3.8 Duration of Proceedings 245 10.4 Reasons for Annulment 245 10.4.1 Subject Matter Not Patentable 246 10.4.2 Insufficient Disclosure 247 10.4.3 Unlawful Removal 248 10.4.4 Subject Matter Extends Beyond Application 248 10.4.5 Extension of Scope of Protection ' 248
TABLE OF CONTENTS IX 10.5 Possible Reactions of Patentee 250 10.5.1 Self-Restraint in Nullity Proceedings 250 10.5.2 Limitation Proceedings According to Section 64 PatG [Patent Act] 251 11. IP Arbitration ALEXANDRA DIEHL 253 11.1 Benefits and Limitations of Arbitration in IP Disputes 253 11.1.1 Potential Advantages of IP Arbitration 254 11.1.2 Potential Disadvantages of IP Arbitration 263 11.1.3 At a Glance: Pros and Cons of IP Arbitration 268 11.2 Arbitrability of IP Disputes 269 11.2.1 Why Arbitrating IP Disputes Might Be an Issue 269 11.2.2 The Current Situation in Germany 269 11.3 IP Investment Arbitration 272 11.3.1 The Framework of Investment Arbitration 273 11.3.2 The Protection of IP Rights through (German) BITs 274 12. Antitrust Aspects Misuse of Patents MARC BESEN 279 12.1 Background 279 12.2 Article 101 TFEU 280 12.2.1 General Principles 280 12.2.2 Application of Article 101, para. 1 TFEU to Patent Settlement Agreements 282 12.3 Article 102 TFEU 284 12.3.1 Market Dominance 284 12.3.2 Abuse of a Market Dominant Position 286 12.3.3 Consequences 286 12.3.4 Main Areas of Application of Article 102 TFEU with Regard to Patents 287 13. Strategies for Multi-Jurisdictional Patent Litigation THORSTEN VORMANN, CHRISTOPH J. CRUTZEN 291 13.1 Size of the Market 291 13.2 Experience of the Judges 292 13.3 Duration of Proceedings 292 13.4 Obtaining Evidence and Information from the Infringer 294 13.4.1 Pre-Trial Information Gathering 294 13.4.2 Gathering Information During Trial 297 13.5 Remedies and Damages 298 13.5.1 Availability of Interim Relief 299
X TABLE OF CONTENTS 13.5.2 Damages 300 13.5.3 Destruction of Infringing Products and Recall from Trade Channels 302 13.6 Likelihood of Losing a Patent in Suit 302 13.7 Effect of an Appeal on Enforcement 303 13.8 Costs 304 List of Abbreviations 307 Literature 313 Index 323 Editor 329