Nestle loses patent battles

Nestle SA, the world’s biggest food company, lost court rulings over attempts to stop companies from selling rival capsules compatible with Nespresso machines in Germany.

Nestle’s patents for the coffee machine system don’t prevent consumers from using other capsules, the Dusseldorf Regional Court said yesterday. The capsules are neither the key component nor a “special feature” of the protected invention, the judges said.

Nespresso faces increased competition as food companies including DE Master Blenders 1753 seek to sell single-serve capsules that can be used with Nespresso machines. The German court’s decisions came from Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestle’s suits against Ethical Coffee Co and Betron AG.