UPC_CFI_662/2025
ALLOCATION OF PREAMBLE SEQUENCES
Nokia challenged Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and multiple Lynk & Co, Zeekr, Lotus, and smart branded entities for infringement of EP 3 799 333 (preamble sequence allocation, telecoms/SEP). The Mannheim Local Division rejected the defendants' preliminary objection challenging jurisdiction, holding that each brand group's EU-based subsidiaries share a sufficient business relationship under Art. 33(1)(b) UPCA, and that aligned parallel sales activities under the same patent allegation satisfy the 'same infringement' requirement without requiring complete identity of acts.
UPC jurisdiction over all Geely group defendants under Art. 33(1)(b) UPCA based on business relationship and same infringement allegation
KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 33(1)(b) UPCAHinweis: Court found that corporate group members selling the same branded vehicles share a 'business relationship' within the meaning of Art. 33(1)(b) and face the same infringement allegation even if their individual acts differ in form.
Complete identity of infringing acts is not required; parallel and aligned distribution activities suffice for 'same infringement allegation'
KlägerRechtsgrundlage: Art. 33(1)(b) UPCAHinweis: Court held that the infringement allegation need only be 'aligned in purpose' (gleichgerichtet) rather than identical; selling the same branded product in different EU countries satisfies this requirement.
Case should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction over non-EU defendants (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.)
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 33(1)(b) UPCABegründung: Court confirmed that non-EU domiciled parent companies cannot alone anchor jurisdiction under Art. 33(1)(b); jurisdiction was established via the EU-domiciled subsidiaries in Germany.
Business relationship under Art. 33(1)(b) requires direct commercial ties between all defendants across different brand groups within the Geely conglomerate
BeklagterRechtsgrundlage: Art. 33(1)(b) UPCABegründung: Court held it was sufficient that each brand group's subsidiaries had the required relationship among themselves; cross-brand-group relationships need not be established for a single consolidated action to be competent.
Weitere Fälle zu diesem Grundsatz ansehen.