Nov 18 2013
The European Court of Appeal of the Special Patent Office has canceled the patent for coffee capsules for Nespresso coffee machines. In April 2012, the same Patent Office recognized the effect of the patent in a modified form, but competitors appealed this decision.
The invalidation of a patent is final and covers 28 EU countries. The authoritative edition of The Wall Street Journal reported that the grounds for the cancellation of the patent will be published a little later. So far, it is only known that the patent concerned methods for removing coffee capsules from a coffee machine after they have been used.
Nespresso is one of the fastest growing subsidiaries in the Swiss Nestle family. Its annual sales amount to $ 4.96 billion, while the value of the capsule coffee market itself does not exceed $ 6.6 billion.
Coffee machines for the production of disposable "capsules" from raw ingredients are becoming more and more popular. If you need an espresso coffee maker, you will definitely find it in Notus. It is clear that Nestle hoped to sell coffee capsules to owners of coffee machines at a higher price. The good profitability shown by this type of business spawned numerous imitators, so conflict between manufacturers was inevitable.
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