Board of Appeals of the European Patent Office revokes EIS GMBH’s Patent EP ‘297 / Update from October 3rd: Statement from Satisfyer
Today (October 1st) the editorial office of EAN received a press release from LELO. Below is the original text:
In a significant legal victory, Board of Appeals of the European Patent Office (EPO) has decided that EIS GMBH’s patent EP 3 228 297 (“Pressure Waves Massage Apparatus”) (“EP’297”) is not valid and it has been revoked in the European Patent Convention Member states.
In summary: EIS’s EP ‘297 patent is revoked, and EIS can no longer threaten or initiate litigation against parties selling pressure wave devices based upon alleged infringement of the same patent. All retailers and distributors in European countries which have ratified the European Patent Convention are free to sell LELO’s SONA, SILA, and ENIGMA lines without fear of being threatened or sued by EIS on the basis of EP ‘297.
This decision confirms what LELO believed all along: its innovative designs and technologies are distinct and original, upholding the brand’s reputation for pioneering excellence in the intimate wellness industry.
The Board of Appeals determined that EP ‘297 is not valid and has been revoked. This decision is final and non-appealable. A list of countries in which the patent previously was valid , but no longer remains so, is below:
AL – Albania; AT – Austria; BE – Belgium; BG – Bulgaria; CH – Switzerland; CY – Cyprus; CZ – Czech Republic; DE – Germany; DK – Denmark; EE – Estonia; ES – Spain; FI – Finland ; FR – France; GB – United Kingdom; GR – Greece; HR – Croatia; HU – Hungary; IE – Ireland; IS – Iceland; IT – Italy; LI – Liechtenstein; LT – Lithuania; LU – Luxembourg; LV – Latvia; MC – Monaco; MK – North Macedonia; MT – Malta; NL – Netherlands; NO – Norway; PL – Poland; PT – Portugal; RO – Romania; RS – Serbia; SE – Sweden; SI – Slovenia; SK – Slovakia; SM – San Marino; TR – Türkiye.
This decision serves to uphold LELO brand’s reputation for pioneering excellence in the intimate wellness industry. LELO remains dedicated to its mission of delivering high-quality, innovative products to its customers.
Should EIS or any representative of EIS reach out with further threats or allegations of infringement based upon EP ‘297, please contact LELO immediately. We will take swift action against any such unjustified actions.
On October 3rd, we received a statement from Satisfyer, which we also publish here in its original form:
Satisfyer informs about decision of the EPO Board of Appeal
Satisfyer confirms that on 30 September 2025, the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office issued a decision revoking Satisfyer’s European Patent EP 3 228 297 B1. This decision has no impact on our ability to manufacture, market, or sell Satisfyer products. You can continue to rely on the same uninterrupted supply of our products and the trusted support you are accustomed to.
This European Patent represented only a small part of the global intellectual property portfolio of the Satisfyer Group. In addition to other registered patents and pending patent applications covering pressure-wave technology (Air Pulse), the worldwide intellectual property portfolio of the Satisfyer Group includes numerous additional patents, design rights and trademarks which protect Satisfyer’s innovative products.
Contrary to Lelo’s statement on 1 October 2025, the Board of Appeal has not determined that Lelo’s ‘designs and technologies are distinct and original’. The Board did not make any statement regarding Lelo’s designs and technologies at all. Whether their products are distinct and original, is something every seller should assess independently.
Regardless of this decision, the distribution of products that violate any of our existing patents or other intellectual property rights remains illegal and Satisfyer will take swift action against any such infringement. We recommend that every seller of products verifies that their products are safe to distribute from an intellectual property perspective and obtains guarantees and indemnification from the respective manufacturers.
Bielefeld, 02 October 2025
Sven Pelka, CEO Satisfyer Group
