UPC CoA 690/2024 – Valeo Electrification v Magna PT B.V. & Co. KG et al.

Court
Court of Appeal
Date
Outcome
Action withdrawn, proceedings closed
Sector
Mechanics
Decision Type
Order on Withdrawal of Action

Expert Commentary

Full Decision Text

ORDER of the Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court issued on 13 January 2025 Withdrawal pursuant to R.265 RoP APPLICANT AND RESPONDENT (APPLICANT IN THE MAIN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE CFI) Valeo Electrification, Cergy, France hereinafter also referred to as “Valeo” represented by: Felix Roediger, Jonas Smeets, and Fabian Saupe, Attorneys-at-law, Bird & Bird LLP, Düsseldorf, Germany RESPONDENTS AND APPELLANTS (DEFENDANTS IN THE MAIN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE CFI) 1. Magna PT B.V. & Co. KG, Untergruppenbach, Germany 2. Magna PT s.r.o., Kechnec, Slovak Republic 3. Magna International France, SARL, Biévres, France hereinafter also jointly referred to as “Magna” all represented by: Klaus Haft, Attorney-at-law, Hoyng ROKH Monegier, Munich, Germany; Sabine Agé, Caroline Levesque, Lonni Bas, Laurène Borey, Attorneys-at-laws, Hoyng ROKH Monegier, Paris, France; Sebastian Kratzer, Sven Krause, Max von Leitner, Elisa in den Birken, Chiara Prinz, Attorneys-at-laws, Hoyng, ROKH, Monegier, Düsseldorf, Germany; Dr. Wolfgang Kellenter, Dr. Matthias Rothkopf, David Rüther, Nina Mackenstedt, Attorneys-at-laws Hengeler Mueller, Düsseldorf, Germany PATENT AT ISSUE EP 3 320 604 LANGUAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS English DECIDING JUDGES This order was issued by Panel 2 Rian Kalden, presiding judge and judge-rapporteur Ingeborg Simonsson, legally qualified judge Patricia Rombach, legally qualified judge Jeroen Meewisse, technically qualified judge Max Tilmann, technically qualified judge IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE ORD 56534/2024 in the main proceedings concerning provisional measures, in ACT 39183/2024 UPC CFI 368/2024, issued by the Local Division Düsseldorf on 31 October 2024. UPC Court of Appeal UPC CoA 690/2024 APL 60975/2024 App 68579/2024 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 1. At Valeo’s request based on alleged infringement of the patent at issue, the Court of First Instance, Düsseldorf Local Division, in the impugned order of 31 October 2024, issued a preliminary injunction against Magna for the German and French territory. 2. On 14 November 2024, Magna filed an appeal from the impugned order (APL 60975/2024). 3. On 6 December 2024, the judge-rapporteur closed the interim proceedings and summoned the parties to an oral hearing to be held on 16 January 2024. 4. By order of 11 December 2024, the Court of Appeal suspended the effect of the impugned order insofar as the injunction covered the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé car model until the Court of Appeal had decided on Magna’s pending appeal against the impugned order. The effect of the impugned order was prior thereto suspended by respective orders of the standing judge dated 14 and 21 November 2024. 5. On 30 December 2024 Valeo filed an application to withdraw the Action pursuant to R.265 RoP (App 68579/2024). 6. Magna uploaded its consent to the requested withdrawal in a R. 9 RoP application on 2 January 2025 (App 51/2025) PARTIES’ SUBMISSIONS 7. In its request, Valeo stated that it wished to withdraw the action, that Magna had already given their written consent to the withdrawal of the action and will not object and that the parties have agreed that neither party shall file an Application for reimbursement of costs. 8. With reference to Valeo’s application, Magna declared their consent to the withdrawal and confirmed that the parties have agreed that neither party shall file an application for reimbursement of costs versus the other party. GROUNDS 9. The application is admissible since there is no final decision in the action in view of the pending appeal. 10. In view of Magna’s consent, Magna cannot be considered to have a legitimate interest in the action being decided by the Court. The application can thus be permitted. ORDER The Court of Appeal: - permits the withdrawal of the action (ACT 39183/2024, UPC CFI 368/2024; APL 60975/2024 UPC CoA 690/2024) and declares the proceedings closed; - orders that this decision shall be entered on the register; - declares that there is no need for a cost decision. Issued on 13 January 2025 Rian Kalden, presiding judge and judge-rapporteur Ingeborg Simonsson, legally qualified judge Patricia Rombach, legally qualified judge Jeroen Meewisse, technically qualified judge Max Tilmann, technically qualified judge

Key Holdings

  • The Court of Appeal permits the withdrawal of the action (ACT 39183/2024, UPC CFI 368/2024; APL 60975/2024 UPC CoA 690/2024).
  • The proceedings are declared closed following the withdrawal of the action.
  • No cost decision is needed as the parties agreed that neither party shall file an application for reimbursement of costs.
  • An application for withdrawal is admissible if there is no final decision in the action, even with a pending appeal.
  • In view of the respondent's consent, the respondent cannot be considered to have a legitimate interest in the action being decided by the Court, thus permitting the withdrawal.

Tags

  • Court of Appeal
  • Infringement
  • Preliminary Injunction
  • Rules of Procedure
  • Settlement
  • Unified Patent Court
  • Withdrawal

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