
UPC Court of Appeal UPC_CoA_219/2024 APL_25923/2024 App_29007/2024
ORDER
of the Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court issued on 22 May 2024 concerning a request for expedition of the appeal pursuant to R.225(e), R.9.3(b) Rules of Procedure
HEADNOTES:
In the appeal against an order in which an application for security for costs was dismissed, a request by the Appellant to expedite the appeal and shorten any deadlines where possible in accordance with R.9.3 (b) RoP is denied for being too unspecified and insufficiently substantiated.
KEYWORDS:
Expedition of the appeal, R.225 (e), R.9.3 (b) RoP
APPLICANT / APPELLANT / DEFENDANT IN THE MAIN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE:
Audi AG , Ingolstadt, Germany
Hereinafter also referred to as: Audi ' '
represented by: Dr. Jan Bösing, Rechtsanwalt, Bardehle Pagenberg, Munich, Germany
RESPONDENT / CLAIMANT IN THE MAIN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
Network System Technologies LLC. , Portland, ME, Unites States of America
Hereinafter also referred to as NST , ' '
represented by: Dr Thomas Gniadek, Simmons&Simmons, Munich, Germany
LANGUAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS:
English
PATENT AT ISSUE
EP 1 552 399
PANEL
Second Panel
DECIDING JUDGES:
This order has been adopted by
Rian Kalden, Presiding judge and judge-rapporteur
Ingeborg Simonsson, legally qualified judge
Patricia Rombach, legally qualified judge
IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
- □ Date: 23 April 2024 (signed 25 April 2024); ORD_17417/2024 in related proceedings (requests for security for costs) App_11456/2024, App_11454/2024 and App_11732/2024 in the main infringement action ACT_597693/2023)
- □ Action number attributed by the Court of First Instance Local Division Munich): UPC_CFI_515/2023
SUMMARY OF FACTS
On 1 March 2024 Audi filed an application under Art. 69.4 UPCA and R.158.1 RoP (App. 11456/2024), requesting the Court to order NST to provide adequate security for legal costs and other expenses incurred by Audi. The Court of First Instance denied the Application. Leave to appeal was granted in the Order.
INDICATION OF PARTIES REQUESTS '
In the appeal proceedings, Audi requests that the impugned order shall be set aside. It argues that the Court of First Instance applied legally erroneous standards of examination and of burden of proof for the decision on the provision of security for costs. The Court of First Instance furthermore misapplied the undisputed facts of the case at hand, Audi contends.
.
In the request for expedition of the appeal, Audi requests the Court of Appeal pursuant to R.225(e) and R.9.3 RoP to expedite the appeal and shorten any deadlines where possible. Audi argues that it already incurred significant legal costs for the filing of the statement of defence in the main infringement proceedings on the merits without any security that such costs will be reimbursed by NST. These legal costs continue to increase and thus need to be secured as soon as possible.
POINTS AT ISSUE
Request for expedition of the appeal, R.225 (e), R.9.3 (b) RoP
GROUNDS FOR THE ORDER
-
- The request for expedition is admissible.
-
- There is no need to consult NST about this request.
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- Pursuant to R.235 and R.224.2(b) RoP a respondent has 15 days from service of the Statement of grounds of appeal to lodge a Statement of response.
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- R.9.3(b) RoP empowers the Court to shorten any time period on a reasoned request by a party.
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- Audi filed the request for expedition of the appeal, at the same time as it lodged the Statement of appeal, containing the grounds of appeal, 15 days after the signature date of the impugned order.
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- Audi has not explained that and why it would have a particular interest in the Statement of response being filed before any particular date, prior to the end of the time period of 15 days as provided for in R.224.2(b) RoP. Failing such a reason, the Court of Appeal cannot, in view of the interests of NST and the principles of proportionality, fairness and equity, also taking into account the time period Audi has taken to lodge its Statement of grounds of appeal, see any reason to shorten the time period within which NST is to lodge its Statement of response.
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- Insofar as the further appeal proceedings are concerned, the request is too unspecified and insufficiently substantiated to justify the shortening of any of the future time periods at this stage of the proceedings.
ORDER
The request for expedition of the appeal is rejected.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PARTIES AND TO THE REGISTRY CONCERNING THE NEXT STEPS This order closes App_29007/2024.
Issued on 22 May 2024
NAMES AND SIGNATURES
Judges
Rian Kalden, Presiding judge and judge-rapporteur
Ingeborg Simonsson, legally qualified judge
Patricia Rombach, legally qualified judge