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Ford/Jaguar, represented by Müller Schupfner & Partner, successfully defends an essential European Patent for a panoramic automotive roof

Ford Global Technologies, LLC and Jaguar Cars Ltd., represented by Müller Schupfner & Partner Munich, successfully defended the European Patent 2 154 015 against the opposition filed by Webasto SE in the final instance before the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office. The patent was maintained as originally granted.

The European Patent 2 154 015 provides protection for a panoramic sliding sunroof, in which the guide rails for the roof are manufactured by means of an extrusion process. This manufacturing process is preferred for automotive parts, as it can ensure a high level of size accuracy while still providing fast production rates and low manufacturing costs. Because of the broad scope of protection afforded by the patent, EP 2 154 0 provides a significant monopolistic position in the industry.

After Ford/Jaguar together with their representative Muller Schupfner & Partner, Munich, could successfully defend the patent in the first instance, the opposition by Webasto SE was finally refused in the oral proceedings of April 18, 2018.

Webasto now has the option to challenge the national parts of the European Patent, for example, in Germany by means of a nullification suit at the German Federal Patent Court. It remains to be seen if Webasto will make use of this possibility.