VPG Systems UK Ltd v Air-Weigh Europe Ltd

VPG Systems UK Ltd v Air-Weigh Europe Ltd

Claims 1 and 7 of the patent are invalid for lack of inventive step because the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art (Rothoff) would have been obvious to the skilled person, and commercial considerations do not affect the legal assessment of obviousness.

Parties
Claimant: VPG Systems UK Limited; Defendant: Air-Weigh Europe Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
01 July 2015
Procedural Posture
Patent Infringement and Validity / Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Claims 1 and 7 of the patent are invalid for lack of inventive step.
Legal Topics
Inventive Step, Patent Infringement, Patent Construction, Obviousness

Case Brief

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Parties

VPG Systems UK Limited

Claimant

Air-Weigh Europe Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Patent Infringement and Validity / Judgment After Trial

  1. 1 Whether claims 1 and 7 of European Patent (UK) No. 2,099,626 B1 are invalid for lack of inventive step over the prior art (Rothoff)
  2. 2 Proper construction of 'suspension component' in the patent claims
  3. 3 Whether commercial considerations affect the assessment of obviousness

Ratio Decidendi

Claims 1 and 7 of the patent are invalid for lack of inventive step because the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art (Rothoff) would have been obvious to the skilled person, and commercial considerations do not affect the legal assessment of obviousness.

Court Disposition

Claims 1 and 7 of the patent are invalid for lack of inventive step.