JUVE Comment

This pure patent attorney firm from Stuttgart is very well positioned for patent prosecution for the German Mittelstand. The traditional firm also boasts a great deal of experience in disputes across a very broad technical spectrum. This is especially true for nullity suits and EPO oppositions involving mechanical engineering, mechanics and electronics patents, which are often conducted by the patent attorneys for Mittelstand companies. The firm regularly assists these clients in technical matters, including in infringement cases alongside various external lawyers. The firm has particularly loyal clients among auto suppliers and medical product manufacturers. Its activities for German Mittelstand companies like vacuum technology specialist J. Schmalz and auto supplier Kinetix in China remain formidable. Here, the firm draws on an informal network for infringement proceedings and the coordination of these before the Chinese courts.

But it is not only Mittelstand companies who put their trust in Dreiss: Phillip Morris is relying on the Stuttgart firm for bigger and bigger cases – among them the e-cigarette dispute with BAT. As such the firm has beaten UK firms to some new instructions. The dispute between Pioneer and TomTom over navigation technology is also part of greater litigation activity.

Despite this expansion, Dreiss cannot yet rival the market leaders Cohausz & Florack, df-mp and Bardehle, as it has yet to find its place in the major mobile communications and pharma battles.

Strengths

Patent prosecution and litigation in engineering, mechanics and electronics.

Recommended individuals

Thomas Knapp, Alexander Bulling, Andreas Pfund, David Sinz (“very thorough work”, competitor), Klaus Thielking (all patent attorneys)

Team

17 patent attorneys

Specialties

All-round activity in IP with a clear focus on patent prosecution with a broad technical spectrum. Opposition and nullity suits, infringement proceedings with external lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: Philip Morris (defendant) against BAT over e-cigarettes; Philip Morris (claimant) against JTI and Nicoventures regarding EPO opposition over e-cigarettes as well as traditional cigarettes; Pioneer (claimant) against TomTom over navigation technology; Barberàn (defendant) against Hymmen over wood printing technology; Minol (defendant) against Siemens over building technology; Olight over LED technology; coordination of infringement suit in China for Kinetix and J. Schmalz (both claimants); frequent oppositions and nullity suits for Paul Hartmann regarding medical technology; Storopack concerning engineering; Uhu (defendant) against Henkel over glue; Robert Bosch on mechanical engineering and electronics patents. Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Automotive Lighting, Conmed, Deutsche Augenoptik, J.Schmalz, LG Innotek, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Marelli Automotive, Paul Hartmann, Robert Bosch, Schunk, Syntegon, Trumpf, ZF Friedrichshafen and German car and weapons manufacturers.