Case No. O2018_016 | Decision of 20 May 2020

We have reported earlier on this Blog here about the litigation betwwen Laurastar and Innosteam about ownership of (the national phases of) two PCT applications, WO 2018/006994 A1 and WO 2018/036653 A1; see the EPO Register here and here. The patent applications are about devices and methods for producing instant steam (WO’994) and instant hot water (WO’653), for use e.g. in devices for ironing.

Nothing has surfaced after the main hearing of 25 June 2019. But now, I came across the FPC’s decision of 20 May 2020 to close the proceedings because the parties have ultimately settled, after a series of suspensions of the further course of the proceedings after the main hearing.
Laurastar is bearing the court fees; no party compensations are awarded.
I understand that the so-called InstantSteam feature is still a major selling point of Innosteam, the efficiency of which purportedly allows for the commercialization of a high end ironing system at an affordable price.
Reported by Martin WILMING
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Case No. O2018_016 | Decision of 20 May 2020
Laurastar SA
./.
Innosteam Swiss SA
Panel of Judges:
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- Dr. Mark SCHWEIZER
- Dr. Ralph SCHLOSSER
- Dr. Giovanni GERVASIO
Judge-rapporteur:
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- Dr. Giovanni GERVASIO
Court Clerk:
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- Susanne ANDERHALDEN
Representative(s) of Plaintiff:
Representative(s) of Defendant:
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- Laurent MUHLSTEIN (JMLP)
- Dr. Christian HELBIG (Wagner + Helbig)
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DECISION IN FULL
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