France: Court Procedure

The Paris Central Division of the Unified Patent Court has ruled on whether declaration of non-infringement actions can be filed against European patent applications before formal grant. This decision addresses the intersection of UPC jurisdiction, opt-out rights, and the timing requirements for initiating legal proceedings in the unified patent system.

The Paris Central Division has ruled that UPC actions can be filed for patent applications nearing grant, potentially invalidating opt-outs filed after proceedings commence. This decision raises critical questions about the timing of opt-out filings and the scope of UPC jurisdiction over pending applications.

France has introduced a new Economic Activity Court system with a significant financial requirement: companies filing claims over €50,000 must pay a Contribution to Economic Justice of 3-5% of their claim value, capped at €50,000-€100,000. This reform fundamentally changes litigation strategy for businesses operating in France's commercial courts.

The French Court of Cassation has established a critical limitation on enforcing arbitral awards against State-linked entities when EU financial stability objectives are at stake. In a landmark ruling involving Greece's asset management vehicle HCAP, the Court held that while creditors may generally pursue assets of State emanations, this doctrine must yield when enforcement would undermine EU-mandated restructuring and stabilization programs. This decision fundamentally reshapes enforcement strategy for ar

En 2025, la Cour de cassation a établi qu'une adresse IP constitue une donnée personnelle protégée par le RGPD, bouleversant ainsi les pratiques de surveillance en entreprise. Cette décision soulève des questions cruciales sur la légalité de la surveillance des salariés, la recevabilité des enregistrements secrets et la validité des signatures électroniques.

This article examines a recent ruling from the Unified Patent Court regarding the scope and application of preliminary objections in patent litigation proceedings.

Depuis 2 ans et évidemment en lien avec la pandémie de COVID-19, l'OEB a mis en place une généralisation de l'utilisation des visioconférences pour la tenue des procédures orales devant les divisions d'Examen et d'Opposition.

Le 23 avril 2021, le tribunal judiciaire de Nancy rendait un jugement remarquable de pédagogie, concernant la condamnation d'un hébergeur et de l'administrateur de son site internet pour contrefaçon d'œuvre de l'esprit.

Recent changes to the French Civil Procedure Code significantly enhance the efficacy of judgments, even when an appeal has been filed.