JUVE Comment

This patent attorney practice in Munich stands out for its large, broad-based prosecution practice, as well as for its strongly positioned litigation practice. The patent attorneys are often seen in infringement proceedings and nullity suits with a pronounced specialty in life sciences, electronics and mechanics patents. They are especially busy with EPO oppositions.

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. When it comes to infringement proceedings, the Weickmann & Weickmann patent attorneys are often seen in the major series for electronics and mechanics patents, for example for SRAM, Fischerwerke or TCI. On the side of regular client Bayer, they were more active again in disputes over pharmaceuticals. One highlight was the battle for preliminary injunctions against various generics manufacturers concerning Nexavar, which Bayer pursued although the patent had initially been nullified. The patent attorneys conduct these with external lawyers. The firm has traditionally cooperated closely, but not exclusively, with Klaka. The patent attorneys are also part of international proceedings for a tobacco corporation against various competitors over e-cigarettes and other cigarette technologies, where they are conducting numerous central EPO oppositions against competitors’ patents.

Strengths

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

European set-up

Weickmann & Weickmann is a national IP firm with a strong focus on patent prosecution and litigation for international clients mainly in the life sciences sector. The patent attorneys work for large pharma manufacturers, such as Bayer, Hoffmann-La Roche and a French company. It is not unusual for work to be linked to patent filing and extensive prosecution activity. In other technical sectors, especially mechanics, the firm works for SRAM, dowel manufacturer Fischerwerke and many small to midsized technology companies. In infringement proceedings, Weickmann & Weickmann often works closely with lawyers from Klaka.

The firm will continue this close cooperation at the UPC. The patent attorneys are also qualified to litigate here. But the firm still lacks a close partner for UPC proceedings in other UPC countries. The majority of its clients will probably use the UPC rather cautiously anyway.

Recommended individuals

Frank Feller (“careful, knowledgeable, motivated”, client), Volker Jordan, Wolfgang Weiß (all patent attorneys)

Team

26 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: Bayer (claimant) against various generic drug companies over cancer drug Nexavar; 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; TCI (defendant) against signify over LEDs; Meggle (claimant) against Friesland Campina in EPO opposition over food additive; United Initiators over EPO opposition over chemicals and packaging; oppositions and nullity cases for Bayer (public knowledge) as well as a Scandinavian paper manufacturer; regular oppositions for Biopharm and tobacco corporations over e-cigarettes. Prosecution: filing and oppositions for Hoffmann-La Roche, Novelis and Sanofi-Aventis. Filing for Algoriddim, Amistec, Apogenix, Baidu, Electrolux, Heidelberg Pharma, Honda, Jungheinrich, Lilium, Max-Planck-Innovation, Nike, Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik, Römer & Heigl, manufacturer of eye-tracking systems.