Insights from
our practice

Aug 13, 2026

UPC: Importance of the Initial Willingness to License in the FRAND Defense

In this major judgment, the Local Chamber Düsseldorf addresses the application of the CJEU's Huawei/ZTE case law concerning standard-essential patents. A dominant position within the meaning of Article 102 of the Treaty…

Jul 2, 2026

UPC: First referral to the CJEU on the jurisdiction and liability of authorised representatives

In this landmark request for a preliminary ruling, the Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court is dealing for the first time with fundamental questions concerning the jurisdiction and liability of authorised…

Mar 13, 2026

UPC-Court of Appeal: Procedural decision on an application for a CJEU preliminary ruling

A need for interpretation of EU law in the context of application of the UPCA and/or the RoP can arise when, for instance, a provision of the UPCA or the RoP implements or relates to a directive, a regulation, or to an…

Oct 3, 2025

UPC Local Division: Jurisdiction Non-UPCA Member States

According to the CJEU 25. 2. 2025, C-339/22, BSH Haushaltsgeräte, the UPC remains competent for infringement actions concerning patents in non-UPCA Member States even if the defendant disputes the validity of that…

Mar 8, 2023

Is the underside of a bicycle saddle visible during normal use?

Component parts of complex products are also amenable to design protection, provided that they are visible during normal use (in German, the expression “intended use” is used) and the visible features meet the…