Judicial Administration Structure for Patent Disputes: Germany

Information provided by:
An International Guide to Patent Case Management for Judges

Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) X Senate

Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgericht) (appellate)

Federal Patent Court Appeal Chamber (Beschwerdesenat)

Federal Patent Court Revocation Chamber (Nichtigkeitssenat)

Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf

Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe

Higher Regional Court of Munich

Regional Courts (Landgericht) (12 (out of 115) regional courts designated to hear patent cases) (first instance)

German Patent and Trademark Office

Regional Court of Düsseldorf

Regional Court of Mannheim

Regional Court of Munich

Administrative Jurisdiction The Patent and Trademark Office presides over the application, revocation, and opposition of patents.

Patent Revocation Actions The Federal Patent Court has exclusive jurisdiction over patent nullity cases and cases regarding the validity of a patent. Compulsory license cases fall under this jurisdiction.

Patent Infringement Actions (which maybe stayed with regard to any available revocation action)