NIPC Law

  Jane Lambert Patents Court (Mr Justice Mellor) Abbott Laboratories Ltd v Dexcom In c. [2021] EWHC 2246 (Pat) (6 Aug 2021) This was an application for an order to expedite the trial of an action that Abbott Laboratories Ltd. ("Abbott") had begun 2 days earlier against Dexcom Inc ("Dexcom") for the revocation of 4 of Dexcom Inc's European patents. The reason for the action and application is that Dexcom had brought proceedings for the infringement of those patents in Germany.  The trials of those actions were likely to take place between early March and the end of April 2022. In Germany, unlike the United Kingdom, it is not possible to challenge the validity of a patent in infringement proceedings.  Alleged infringers who wish to challenge the validity of the patent they are alleged to have infringed must bring opposition proceedings in the European Patent Office under art 99 of the European Patent Convention or start separate revocation proceedings in Germany....

Basher Eyre / Junction of Fetter Lane and Rolls Buildings Jane Lambert Patents Court (Mr Justice Birss)   Nicoventures Trading Ltd v Philip Morris Products, SA ( [2020] EWHC 1594 (Pat) (16 June 2020) This was an application by Philip Morris Products SA ("Philip Morris") to expedite the trial of an action that it had brought against British American Tobacco ("BAT") for the invalidation of European patents (UK) 3 398 460 and 3 491 944 for heated tobacco products which had been invented by John Howard Robinson and others ("the Robinson patents").  BAT resisted the application on the ground that the case for expedition had not been made out. However, there was also a contingent cross-application by BAT for expedition of the trial of an action that it had brought against Philip Morris for the invalidation of the Robinson patents and a counterclaim for the infringement of European patents (UK) 3 248 484, 3 248 486, and 3 248 483 for heated ...