Date Court Event
1-Aug-05 CFI DSS Lodged initial infringement suit against ECB
20-Oct-05 CFI ECB challenged Venue (wanted the suit to be heard in the European National Courts of each country instead of CFI)
24-Mar-06 United Kingdom ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
24-Mar-06 Luxembourg ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 The Netherlands ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 Belguim ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 France ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 Spain ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 Austria ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 Germany ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
March of 2006 Italy ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent
30-Jan-07 United Kingdom Patent Invalidity Court Hearing concludes
26-Mar-07 United Kingdom Court Decision release, patent revoked on basis of "added matter" - All other challenges to patent were denied
27-Mar-07 Germany Patent Invalidity Court hearing and decision, Court rules in DSS favor deeming Patent valid - Victory allows DSS to pursue infringement in Germany
4-Jun-07 France Patent Invalidity court hearing
June of 2007 CFI Ruling on venue was delayed
6-Sep-07 France First Delay - Expected to rule on Patent Validity hearing from June 4, ruling delayed to Oct 24, 2007
11-Sep-07 CFI Ruling on Venue-CFI refuses jurisdiction. Sends jurisdiction to the European National Courts
24-Oct-07 France Second Delay - Expected to rule on Patent Validity hearing from June 4, ruling delayed to Nov 14, 2007
14-Nov-07 France Third Delay - Expected to rule on Patent Validity hearing from June 4, ruling delayed to January 9, 2008
14-Dec-07 The Netherlands Patent Invalidity Court Hearing
9-Jan-08 France Court decision release-patent revoked on basis of "added matter"
5-Feb-08 United Kingdom Hearing of Appeal
19-Feb-08 The Netherlands Ruling was delayed until March 12, 2008
February 2008 Italy Patent Invalidity court hearings [could range 4 - 7 hearings]
March 12, 2008 The Netherlands District Court of The Hague ruled patent valid
March 19, 2008 United Kingdom UK Court of Appeal upheld decision revoking Patent
June 3 & 5, 2008 Spain The Spanish trial was held on June 3rd and 5th with a summary hearing held on July 17,2008.
Early 2009 Austria Patent Invalidity court hearing
Sept 2008 Luxembourg The ECB has twice withdrawn its case in Luxembourg due to procedural irregularities. There are currently no proceedings in Luxembourg.
November 2008 Luxembourg ECB filed countersuit against DSS for invalidity of the patent for the third time.
Early 2009 Spain Spanish decision on validity is expected
3-Apr-09 Italy Patent Invalidity court hearing
Postponed to Sept 2009 Belgium Patent Invalidity court hearing
Dec 2009 France Invalidity appeal