Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Case C‑531/20

NovaText GmbH

v

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof)

Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 28 April 2022

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48/EC – Article 3 – General obligation concerning the measures, procedures and remedies necessary to ensure the enforcement of intellectual property rights – Article 14 – Concept of ‘reasonable and proportionate legal costs’ – Consultation of a patent lawyer – Absence of opportunity for the national court to assess the reasonableness and proportionality of the costs to be borne by the unsuccessful party)

1. Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Legal costs – Concept

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, Art. 14)

   (see paragraphs 40-42)
2. Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Legal costs – National legislation not allowing the national court to take account of the specific characteristics of the particular case for the purpose of assessing the reasonableness and proportionality of the costs – Not permissible

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, recital 17 and Arts 3 and 14, and enacting terms)

   (see paragraphs 49-55)

[See the text of the decision.](https://curia.europa.eu/juris/documents.jsf?num=C-531/20)

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