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DEnMARK
Annelise Holme
Holme Patent
PAtEnt LItIGAtIon
In DEnMARK
A patent infringement occurs when a third party makes, uses or sells a patented Even though there are no general time limits for fi ling patent infringement
technology without the permission of the patent holder. It is important to bear lawsuits in Denmark, there is a clear lower limit where acquiescence cannot
in mind that patent rights are territorial, and infringement is only possible enter into force. As stated in the Danish Patent Act, Section 60(4), a claim
in a country where a patent is in force. At present, although patents can be
for damages for infringement actions shall not be statute-barred earlier than
applied for in a number of European countries through the European Patent
one year aft er the expiration of the opposition period or aft er the patent is
Offi ce (EPO), a successful application results in a bundle of national patent
maintained by the patent authority.
rights, which must be enforced on a country-by-country basis. Th is creates
the potential for multiple proceedings across Europe, with the associated cost
However, in a Danish Supreme Court decision from August 24, 2009,
implications and confl icts with the commercial needs for certainty and speed.
the Danish court ruled that a patent proprietor who had tolerated an
infringement for eight years has lost his right to stop the infringement. Th e
However, successful enforcement of patent rights can off er substantial
fact that the patent proprietor initiated opposition proceedings against the
rewards, keeping in mind that litigation, including injunctions, is not
allegedly infringed Danish patent during said period had no relevance.
the only possible solution when a third party is infringing a patent right.
Sometimes settlements or licences provide a faster and better solution. In In this respect, it must be stressed that only actual products and methods can
any case, patent holders stand to benefi t signifi cantly from their ability to infringe a patent, not theoretical products and methods, and that a patent by
protect their rights.
itself does not give the proprietor the right to commercialise the protected
technology but only the right to exclude all others from commercialising it.
In each jurisdiction, the national case law is relevant. Th e following
While the diff erence may seem subtle, it is a crucial distinction that needs
discussion will therefore focus on two Danish Supreme Court decisions
to be made.
from 2009 that could have an impact on future patent cases.
In this case, the Danish Supreme Court stated that due to the eight years of
Patent litigation can be barred due to laches
passivity, the proprietor had lost his right to prevent the infringement, as
A patent holder who is aware of infringing activities but fails to object to the
the alleged infringer had reason, in good faith, to assume that the proprietor
infringing activity may in Denmark risk enforcement being barred under would not enforce his rights. Th e judgment highlights the importance of
general principles of acquiescence or laches. prompt action where a patent is infringed, and where a reasonable case for
58 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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