Rockwater Ltd v Coflexip SA & Anor

Rockwater Ltd v Coflexip SA & Anor

Rockwater's vessel did not infringe Coflexip's patent because the apparatus did not meet the requirement that the tensioner be the last means for guiding the flexible conduit. The patent claims were invalid for anticipation and obviousness over the Recalde prior art, which disclosed apparatus and methods falling within the scope of the claims or making them obvious to the skilled person.

Parties
Claimant/part 20 Defendant: Rockwater Limited; Defendant/part 20 Claimant: Coflexip S.A.; Part 20 Claimant: Technip Offshore UK Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
15 April 2003
Procedural Posture
Patent Revocation and Counterclaim for Infringement / First Instance Judgment
Outcome
Claim dismissed; counterclaim for revocation succeeds
Legal Topics
Patent Infringement, Patent Validity, Obviousness, Anticipation
Intellectual Property Patents Patent Infringement Patent Validity Obviousness Anticipation

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Parties

Rockwater Limited

Claimant/part 20 Defendant

Coflexip S.A.

Defendant/part 20 Claimant

Technip Offshore UK Limited

Part 20 Claimant

Procedural Posture

Patent Revocation and Counterclaim for Infringement / First Instance Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Rockwater's vessel infringed Coflexip's patent claims
  2. 2 Whether Coflexip's patent claims are invalid for anticipation or obviousness

Ratio Decidendi

Rockwater's vessel did not infringe Coflexip's patent because the apparatus did not meet the requirement that the tensioner be the last means for guiding the flexible conduit. The patent claims were invalid for anticipation and obviousness over the Recalde prior art, which disclosed apparatus and methods falling within the scope of the claims or making them obvious to the skilled person.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed; counterclaim for revocation succeeds

Orders

  • Declaration of non-infringement in favour of Rockwater
  • Revocation of Coflexip's patent claims for invalidity