Transcript Intellectual Property since 1876

General aspects of IP litigation in Germany
Moscow, 22 April 2013
Stephan Russlies
Attorney-at-Law, Dipl.-Phys.
[email protected]
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IP infringement prosecution in Germany
Civil litigation
Criminal prosecution
Administrative
proceedings
standard
exceptional
only customs
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German civil court system
Federal Court of Justice (BGH)
Higher regional courts
(24x)
Regional courts
(116x)
Local courts
(> 600x )
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(≤ 5,000 €)
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German IP civil court system
Federal Court of Justice (BGH)
Higher regional courts
(20x)
Regional courts
(12…30x)
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Example: Hamburg IP courts
Copyright & design
Patent
TM & unfair competition
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Caseload of Hamburg IP courts
Higher Regional Court: - 300 cases per year per senate
Regional court:
- 400…700 cases per year per chamber
- 40 % go to hearing
- 50 % TM cases
- 70 % preliminary injunction proceedings
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Technical expertise for patent matters?
Regional Court of Düsseldorf:
- 3 chambers exclusively for patent matters
(and other technology-related matters)
- PA trainees as internal experts
- guidance from parties´ PA
However:
- patent validity disputes: Federal Patent Court
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Standard proceedings
4…15 months
2…6 weeks
t
Filing of
complaint
Submissions:
- evidence
Hearing
Submissions:
Judgment
- points of law
- facts
- points of law
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„Mechanics“ of fact finding
(source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de)
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Example case
Rightholder
Licence 2010
Termination 2012
Infringement action
Customer
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Sale 2013
Manufacturer
Shipment 2011
Trader
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Obligation to substantiate
R: „You infringed 2013!“
T: „M has licence ⇒ exhaustion!“
R: „Licence terminated 2012!“
T: „Purchased 2011!“
R: Dispute purchase under § 138 (4)!
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Evidence
5 standard means of evidence:
- witnesses
3…18 m. extension + 2nd hearing
- documents
- inspection of objects
within 1st hearing, if available
- court appointed expert
- party´s testimony
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IP: substantiation with printouts,
copies, photographs etc.
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Obtaining facts and evidence
Court may issue orders to facilitate inspection of
documents/objects in their possession.
Evidence:
Facts (new information):
- only when proceedings pending
- before infringement action
- any (third) party
- likelihood of infringement
- only alleged infringer
Discretion (principle of proportionality)
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Remedies
- injunction
- damages
- information
- cost reimbursement (e.g. 10,000 € std. TM case)
- recall/removal of products from commercial channels
- destruction
discretion
- publication of judgment
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Formulation of request
„The plaintiff requests
I. that the defendant be ordered
1. to refrain from … (using the sign/offering the article/…)
2. to disclose to the plaintiff the following information about the acts
described unter 1.:
a) names & addresses of suppliers & commercial customers
b) turnover, …
II. that it be established that the defendant shall redress the
plaintiff for all damages incurred by the acts described under 1.“
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Problems with remedies
- damages:
a) low (no punitive aspect)
b) difficult to assess
c) extra proceedings to get enforceable judgment
- information, desctruction & recall:
no formal means to ensure accuracy and completeness
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Preliminary injunctions
- injunctive relief = strongest remedy
harsh sanctions: up to 250,000 €/6 months jail)
- factual disputes resolved by substantiation
⇒ 70 % preliminary injunctions
- ex parte proceedings possible (discretion)
- urgency (1 month!)
- standard proceedings only upon request of a party
(> 50 % settlements beforehand)
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Спасибо за внимание!
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Right to be heard in preliminary injunction proceedings
- Laid down in constitution
- Request should cover:
a) reaction of defendant to warning letter
b) anticipated defenses (e.g. use of own trade mark)
c) validity of IP right (esp. patent, copyright)
⇒ longer than standard complaint
- „Schutzschrift“ (letter of defense)
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