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Purpose and functional information in a device claim “Pulsation damper” (Higher Regional Court (OLG) Düsseldorf)

OLG Düsseldorf, judgment of 19 December 2024 – 2 U 89/22

Decision Keyword:

Pulsation damper

Law applied:

German Patent Act (PatG) Section 14

Summary: 

  1. Purpose and functional information in a product claim merely define the subject matter protected by the patent in that it must be capable for the purpose or function specified in the patent claim – in this case, use as a pulsation damper (established case law, see only Federal Supreme Court (BGH), GRUR-RS 2023, 46125 para. 27 – Support element/Trägerelement). The actual use of the object is irrelevant.  (para. 114)
  2. The disclosure of a specific manufacturing process in a product claim serves only to clearly identify the product in which the characteristics achieved by the manufacturing process (in this case: the material characteristics typical of non-cutting manufacturing) are reflected (consistent with Federal Supreme Court (BGH), GRUR 2024, 1005 para. 23 et seq. - Pulsation damper/Pulsationsdämpfer) (para. 132–133).
  3. If it is undisputed between the parties that the contested embodiment was manufactured using the manufacturing method specified in the patent specification—in this case, non-cutting manufacturing—the plaintiff is no longer required to provide specific evidence that the contested embodiment actually has the corresponding material properties. (para. 132)

OLG Düsseldorf, judgment of 19 December 2024 – 2 U 89/22,

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