JUVE Comment

With a broad technical focus, but largely thanks to its strong pharma specialty, this well-positioned patent attorney firm in Munich made headway going against the general trend towards less patent filing during the coronavirus pandemic. The firm filed many patents for large European pharma manufacturers, for example Sanofi-Aventis and Hoffmann-La Roche, and conducted EPO oppositions. The patent attorneys also worked for Bayer in several oppositions and nullity suits and advised a contract manufacturer on a collaboration with a Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer.

When it comes to infringement proceedings, the Weickmann & Weickmann patent attorneys are not seen as often in the major series of pharma suits as they are for electronics and mechanics patents. The patent attorneys conduct these with external lawyers. The firm has traditionally cooperated closely, but not exclusively, with Klaka. Possibly the highest profile litigation work of late came once again from the field of mechanics, with work for SRAM regarding innovative bicycle components and Fischerwerke concerning special plugs. The patent attorneys also fought hard for a tobacco corporate against the e-cigarette patents of various competitors.

Strengths

Patent prosecution across a broad technical field. Litigation regarding patents in mechanical engineering.

Recommended individuals

Frank Feller (“outstanding”, client), Volker Jordan (“has excellent technical knowledge and very good legal understanding”, competitor), Wolfgang Weiß (all patent attorneys)

Team

28 patent attorneys

Specialties

IP activity focuses on patent prosecution with a broad technical spectrum. Nullity and opposition suits. Infringement proceedings with external lawyers. Trademarks and soft IP through its own lawyers.

Clients

Litigation: Fischerwerke (claimant) against G&B Fissaggi over special wall plug; SRAM (both claimant and defendant) against Shimano over bicycle components; Fränkische Industrial Pipes (defendant) against ABB over pipe connection; H.S.A. Hair Styling Application (as co-defendant of dm Drogeriemarkt) against IP Full Asset over hair product; TCI (defendant) against Philips over LEDs; French auto supplier (defendant) over gearboxes; oppositions and nullity cases for Bayer (public knowledge) as well as a French pharmaceuticals corporation; regular oppositions for Biopharm, Honeywell, Interglarion and US pharma corporate; oppositions for tobacco corporations on e-cigarettes. Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Hoffmann-La Roche, Novelis and Sanofi-Aventis; filing for Algoriddim, Amistec, Apogenix, Heidelberg Pharma, Honda, Jungheinrich, Lilium, Max-Planck-Innovation, Römer & Heigl, Nike, manufacturer of eye-tracking systems.