Patent Enforcement in Germany Pros and Cons by
Patent Enforcement in Germany Pros and Cons by Alexander Harguth Attorney at law Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Alexander Harguth - Attorney at law Galileiplatz 1 81679 München Tel. +49 (89) 92 80 5 -0 Fax +49 (89) 92 80 5 -444 harguth@bardehle. de www. bardehle. com
Solution of evidence insecurities in German Patent litigation - Status quo ? -Have the requirements of Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights already been fulfilled? - What does the future bring?
Basics of German patent litigation Situation before starting the proceedings Situation after starting the proceedings Beginning of the patent lawsuit on the merits - Different situation before and after starting the proceedings as to the available mechanism - Financial risk when filing a lawsuit
Basics of a patent lawsuit - Principle: Each party presents and proves the facts that are necessary to support its claim; defendant may remain passive and is not obliged to disclose facts harmful to his position; - Exception: Defendant is not allowed to plead ignorance of facts that are subject to his cognition - Conclusion: Even if the defendant cannot always rely on the burden of proof and remain passive, the situation can be unsatisfactory;
Means available during a patent infringement lawsuit (I) §§ 142 cf. of the German CCP: - Order for submission of documents and/or objects cited by any party may be addressed to any party, independently of who bears the burden of proof; - Discretion of the Court: Balance of all aspects of the individual case, secrecy or confidentiality reasons - Focus: Specific objects (documents, etc. ), no general discovery; - No enforcement: Court can draw negative conclusions if order is not satisfied; (2) §§ 485 cf. German CCP, independent evidence taking -Possible before or even after commencement of legal proceedings, - Content: Physical inspection, to interrogate witnesses or to introduce expert examinations. -Requirement in the case of pending proceedings: Likelihood of destruction or if evidence may be prevented from being accessible in the proceedings or the respondent gives his consent to such an order. - Seizure of “infringing” objects is not possible
Means available before commencement of the proceedings - A mere belief of infringement is insufficient to initiate proceedings; - Federal Supreme Court: Decision of May 2002 Faxkarte; BGH in GRUR 12/2002, p. 1046; - § 809 of the German Civil Code (substantive law): to submit an object for its inspection or to allow the inspection; - Requirements: Ø“certain amount of” probability (of infringement of the underlying claim) Ø Parties' respective interests must be weighed against each other, Ø Secrecy interests may be solved by procedural means - Limits: No fishing expeditions
What has happened since “Faxkarte” decision - Few published cases; - Solution proposed by the Düsseldorf District Court : ØEnforcement: Lawsuit on the merits. /. Preliminary injunction proceedings combined with independent evidence taking proceedings; ØResult: Opinion of an independent expert, which can be used in the subsequent proceedings. ØFurther requirements: üUrgent case; üIf a lawsuit on the merits is already pending: Likelihood of destruction or if means of evidence may be prevented from being accessible in the proceedings;
Protection of confidential information: (1) Appointment of independent expert; (2) Inspection carried out together with claimant’s representative(s) bound to secrecy obligation; (3) Establishment of the expert opinion; (4) Delivery of the opinion to the defendant and to claimant’s representative(s) bound to a secrecy obligation; (5) the Decision of the court whether and to what extent the findings of the expert can be forwarded to plaintiff.
Have the requirements of Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights already been fulfilled? - Should such order require an “urgent case”? - Should there be a difference if a lawsuit on the merits is already pending or not ? - Should there be a possibility to effectively seize infringing goods ?
Thank you for your attention!
- Slides: 10