top of page
2025-04-09 App_60159_2024
Source:
cost decision, Protection of confidential information, Withdrawal
Art. 58 UPCA - Protection of confidential information
R 9 – Powers of the Court, Rule 102 – Referral to the panel, Rule 151 – Start of proceedings for cost decision, Rule 156 – Further procedure, Rule 262 – Public access to the register, Rule 262A – Protection of Confidential Information, Rule 265 – Withdrawal, Rule 333 – Review of case management orders
-
The following text is not a complete transcript of the decision/order:
Procedural Order
of the Court of First Instance of the Unified Patent Court
Local Division Munich
issued on 9 April 2025
CLAIMANT
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, 1 Edwards Way - 92614 - Irvine - US
represented by: Boris Kreye, Elsa Tzschoppe (Bird & Bird)
assisted by: Bernhard Thum, Dr. Jonas Weickert (Thum & Partner); Siddharth
Kusumakar, Tessa Waldron and Bryce Matthewson (Powell Gilbert)
DEFENDANTS (APPLICANTS)
1) Meril Gmbh
Bornheimer Straße 135-137 - 53119 - Bonn - DE
2) Meril Life Sciences Pvt Ltd.
M1‐M2, Meril Park, Survey No 135/2/B & 174/2 Muktanand Marg, Chala, Vapi - 396 191
Gujara- Vapi – IN
represented by: Dr. Andreas von Falck, Dr. Roman Würtenberger, Dr. Lukas
Wollenschlaeger, Beatrice Wilden, Dr. Alexander Klicznik, Dr. Felipe Zilly
(Hogan Lovells)
assisted by: Peter-Michael Weisse, Ole Dirks, Dr. Eva Maria Thörner (Wildanger)
Local Division Munich
UPC_CFI_15/2023 UPC_CFI_674/2024
UPC_CFI_15/2023
UPC_CFI_674/2024
2
THIRD PARTY (RESPONDENT)
Erik Krahbichler , c/o KIPA AB, Drottninggatan 11, 25221 Helsingborg, Sweden
represented by: Mr Erik Krahbichler, KIPA AB, Drottninggatan 11, 25221 Helsingborg,
Sweden
PATENT AT ISSUE
European patent n° 3 646 825
PANEL/DIVISION
Panel 1 of the Local Division Munich
DECIDING JUDGE/S
This order has been issued by the Presiding Judge Matthias Zigann acting as judge-
rapporteur.
LANGUAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS
English
SUBJECT-MATTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS
Withdrawal of a generic procedural Application - RoP 262.1.b.
Applications for a cost decision – RoP 151 (ACT_60262/2024 and App_60159/2024)
Applications for protection of confidential information - RoP 262A (App_4895/2025 and
APP_4894/2025)
Withdrawal of applications for a cost decision and for protection of confidential information
(App_14061/2025)
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Krahbichler applied for access to the file. Edwards and Meril objected. Krahbichler withdrew
the applications. Meril filed applications for a decision on costs (ACT_60262/2024
UPC_CFI_674/2024 and App_60159/2024 UPC_CFI_15/2023) with briefs dated 7 November
2024.
REQUESTS
Meril requested:
I. Applicant be ordered to bear the costs of proceedings;
II. a cost decision be issued (R. 156.2, 265.2(c) RoP);
UPC_CFI_15/2023
UPC_CFI_674/2024
3
III. Applicant be ordered to reimburse costs incurred in the proceedings concerning
the request for access to written pleadings and evidence filed on 4 June 2024
(App_33377/2024) in the amount of EUR 8,379.00 (see below, Section II.);
IV. Applicant be ordered to pay said costs within a time period to be ordered by the
judge-rapporteur (R. 156.3 RoP).
Krahbichler requested:
The present application is a General procedural application under RoP 9 and thus to be
dismissed of this reason alone.
Re-imbursement of reasonable costs of the respondent is requested in this case, and an
order for a cost decision is requested correspondingly.
Should the present application be deemed admissible, the following requests are made:
- Further details and evidence of the costs is requested pursuant to RoP 156
- Applicants shall be given an opportunity to comment on any future additional
arguments and evidence provided by applicants
- A reasonable amount in the particular case shall be ultimately be determined by the
court
- Cost assistance is requested by the court in case of a decision of costs over 0 €.
The JR ordered with order dated 30 December 2024:
Meril is ordered to provide written evidence of all costs requested and is invited to
further comment within 30 days.
Meril filed an additional brief dated 29 January 2025.
Meril requested in App_4795/2025:
I. the following sections contained in and Exhibits submitted with the Further Comments
filed in workflow App_59832/2024 and in workflow ACT_60270/2024
(UPC_CFI_676/2024) be classified as "confidential information" pursuant to Art. 58
UPCA, Rule 262A RoP and Rule 262.2 RoP:
1. the information contained in the table in Section B.1. of the Further Comments
Comments that are marked in grey,
2. Set of Exhibits HL C submitted with the Further Comments;
II. access to the confidential information be restricted to Mr Erik Krahbichler, being the
Applicant and acting as his "representative" (Mr Erik Krahbichler, KIPA AB) in the present
proceedings;
III. it be ordered that the person authorized to access the confidential information
pursuant to Request II. must treat the confidential information confidential, must not
UPC_CFI_15/2023
UPC_CFI_674/2024
4
disclose the confidential information to any third party outside the present proceedings
and must not use the confidential information outside the present proceedings;
IV. it be ordered that, in the event of a culpable breach of the order pursuant to Request
III., an appropriate penalty, to be determined by the Court having regard to the
circumstances of each case, be paid to the Court for each violation of that order;
V. it be ordered that the obligation to maintain secrecy pursuant to Request I.-IV. shall
continue to apply after the present proceedings have been concluded;
VI. it be ordered that, when publishing an order or decision (or any other announcement)
in the present proceedings, all confidential information pursuant to Request I. must be
redacted to prevent disclosure.
Meril requested in APP_4792/2025:
I. the following sections contained in and Exhibits submitted with the Further Comments
filed in workflow App_59832/2024 and in workflow ACT_60270/2024
(UPC_CFI_676/2024) be classified as "confidential information" pursuant to Art. 58
UPCA, Rule 262A RoP and Rule 262.2 RoP:
1. the information contained in the table in Section B.1. of the Further Comments
Comments that are marked in grey,
2. Set of Exhibits HL C submitted with the Further Comments;
II. access to the confidential information be restricted to Mr Erik Krahbichler, being the
Applicant and acting as his "representative" (Mr Erik Krahbichler, KIPA AB) in the present
proceedings;
III. it be ordered that the person authorized to access the confidential information
pursuant to Request II. must treat the confidential information confidential, must not
disclose the confidential information to any third party outside the present proceedings
and must not use the confidential information outside the present proceedings;
IV. it be ordered that, in the event of a culpable breach of the order pursuant to Request
III., an appropriate penalty, to be determined by the Court having regard to the
circumstances of each case, be paid to the Court for each violation of that order;
V. it be ordered that the obligation to maintain secrecy pursuant to Request I.-IV. shall
continue to apply after the present proceedings have been concluded;
VI. it be ordered that, when publishing an order or decision (or any other announcement)
in the present proceedings, all confidential information pursuant to Request I. must be
redacted to prevent disclosure.
Meril argued that the confidential information according to Request I. comprises narratives,
i.e. descriptions of the specific tasks performed by Defendants' representatives, information
on the hours worked by Defendants' representatives, rates (specific attorney fees). The
information in the table in the Further Comments also allow to draw direct conclusions on the
hourly rates and discounts. The detailed descriptions of the specific legal services provided, the
hours worked, and the corresponding fees incurred are in principle only of significance in the
specific relationship between Defendants and their representatives and within the scope of
their contractual agreements. The information enjoys special protection within the
confidential attorney-client relationship which is fundamentally important for the functioning
UPC_CFI_15/2023
UPC_CFI_674/2024
5
legal representation. Furthermore, the information discloses concrete details on the work
performed for the client (i.e. by Defendants' representatives for them), on how this work was
performed, on how much time was spent on individual tasks and on what was charged for this
work. In particular, the narratives contain sensitive and detailed information especially about
the individual steps of (and time spent on) the legal and preparatory work as well as on client
communication. The specific invoiced attorney fees (and discounts) are the result of the
individual negotiations between the parties and are not accessible to third parties or the
general public.
On 8 January 2025 the Central Division Paris Seat issued an order in APP_ 56782/2024
UPC_CFI_189/2024 dismissing an application for a cost decision in the context of an R 262.2
application. Meril and Krahbichler are also party to these proceedings.
With order dated 17 March 2025 the JR gave the following guidance:
Regarding the application for protection of confidential information pursuant to R. 262A RoP
reference is made to today`s order in App_66581/2024. Consequently, an implied application
pursuant to R. 262.2 RoP could be granted. It is suggested to withdraw the remaining
application.
Regarding the applications for a cost decision reference is made to the order by the Central
Division Paris Seat dated 8 January 2025 (APP_ 56782/2024 UPC_CFI_189/2024).
Consequently, no cost reimbursement is warranted in the context of an application pursuant
to R. 262 RoP or the withdrawal thereof.
It is suggested to withdraw the applications.
With brief dated 21 March 2025 Meril requested (App_14061/2025):
In the interest of procedural economy, we hereby – in the name and on behalf Defendant 2) –
withdraw
I. the applications for cost reimbursement of 7 November 2024 (ACT_60262/2024,
App_60159/2024),
and
II. subject to the below, the confidentiality applications of 29 January 2025 (App_4895/2025,
App_4894/2025).
Meril explained that if the unredacted versions of the submissions filed on 29 January 2025 in
workflows ACT_60262/2024 and App_60159/2024 and/or the unredacted versions of Exhibits
HL C and HL D submitted therewith have meanwhile been made available to Applicant, the
application for confidentiality is maintained to the extent it was requested that confidentiality
be ordered in accordance with Rule 262.2 RoP which, in accordance with the presiding judge
and judge-rapporteur's order, can be granted.
Krahbichler had been invited to file observations. He did not.
UPC_CFI_15/2023
UPC_CFI_674/2024
6
GROUNDS FOR THE ORDER
Reference is made to the above-mentioned guidance dated 17 March 2025.
Regarding the confidentiality concerns it is sufficient to order that parties must not disclose
information marked by Meril as confidential to third parties or the public as it would be in case
of a successful Rule-262.2-application. In case another third party files an application pursuant
to Rule 262 RoP parties will be invited to file observations.
ORDER
1. The applications for withdrawal are permitted.
2. The workflows mentioned above are closed.
3. This decision is to be entered on the register.
4. Each party must bear its own costs incurred.
5. Edwards and Krahbichler must not disclose information marked by Meril as confidential
to third parties or the public.
INFORMATION ABOUT REVIEW BY PANEL
Any party may request that this Order be referred to the panel for a review pursuant to R.
333 RoP. Pending review, the Order shall be effective (R. 102.2 RoP)
Dr. Zigann
Presiding Judge
DETAILS OF THE ORDER
Order no. ORD_68637/2024 in ACTION NUMBER: ACT_459987/2023
UPC number: UPC_CFI_674/2024
Action type: Infringement Action
Order no. ORD_60818/2024 in ACTION NUMBER: ACT_459987/2023
UPC number: UPC_CFI_15/2023
Action type: Infringement Action
Related proceeding no. Application No.: 60159/2024
Application Type: Generic procedural Application
Order no. ORD_17219/2025 in ACTION NUMBER: ACT_459987/2023
UPC number: UPC_CFI_674/2024
Action type: Infringement Action
Related proceeding no. Application No.: 14061/2025
Application Type: Application for leave to withdraw an action (RoP265)
Matthias ZIGANNDigital unterschrieben von Matthias
ZIGANN
Datum: 2025.04.09 10:47:53 +02'00'
UPC_CFI_15/2023
UPC_CFI_674/2024
7
Order no. ORD_13181/2025 in ACTION NUMBER: ACT_459987/2023
UPC number: UPC_CFI_15/2023
Action type: Infringement Action
Related proceeding no. Application No.: 4894/2025
Application Type: APPLICATION_ROP262A
Order no. ORD_13180/2025 in ACTION NUMBER: ACT_459987/2023
UPC number: UPC_CFI_674/2024
Action type: Infringement Action
Related proceeding no. Application No.: 4895/2025
Application Type: APPLICATION_ROP262A
bottom of page