On November 11, 2025, the Düsseldorf Local Division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC Düsseldorf Local Division) ruled in the case of Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. v. Shenzhen Moan Technology Co., Ltd. and its German distributor Andreas Rentmeister e.K. for patent infringement. The court determined that all steps previously taken to notify the Chinese defendants constituted valid service of process.

This decision allows the court to proceed with litigation against the Chinese company without completing the traditional international service procedures required under the Hague Convention.

Case records indicate that Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. filed an application for provisional measures with the Düsseldorf Regional Division of the Unified Patent Court on June 13, 2025, alleging infringement of its European Patent EP 3 835 965 B1 titled “Logic Circuit” by Shenzhen Moan Technology Co., Ltd. and its German distributor Andreas Rentmeister e.K.

On June 18, 2025, the court initiated judicial document service proceedings against the second defendant, Shenzhen Moan Technology Co., Ltd., through China's official online platform. Records indicate the documents were transferred to the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China the following day (June 19).

On June 28, 2025, the application for provisional measures was successfully served upon the first defendant, Andreas Rentmeister e.K., located in Germany.

On July 23, 2025, Andreas Rentmeister e.K. submitted a declaration to the court stating that it had reached a settlement with Hewlett-Packard and informing the court that it would not contest the application for provisional measures. Subsequently, Hewlett-Packard requested the court to render judgment on the portion of the application against Andreas Rentmeister e.K.

As service on the second defendant located in China remained unsuccessful, Hewlett-Packard requested Shenzhen Moan Technology Co., Ltd. to voluntarily accept service by September 15, 2025, but received no response.

On October 10, 2025, Hewlett-Packard requested the UPC Düsseldorf Local Division to inquire with Chinese authorities regarding the service status. The court granted this request and submitted two inquiries in Chinese via an online platform on October 20 and November 4, 2025, respectively. Neither inquiry received a response prior to the November 11 order.

On October 17, 2025, the Düsseldorf Regional Division of the UPC had already issued an order granting a preliminary injunction against the first defendant, Andreas Rentmeister e.K., ordering it to immediately cease sales activities in multiple EU countries and fulfill disclosure obligations. The order explicitly stated that proceedings against the second defendant, Shenzhen Moan Technology Co., Ltd., were temporarily stayed due to service issues.

After exhausting formal service methods, the UPC Düsseldorf Regional Division issued the pivotal order in this case on November 11, 2025. The court determined that all steps taken to notify Shenzhen Moan Technology Co., Ltd., including the initial service via the Hague Convention channel and the subsequent two inquiries, collectively constituted valid service under the rules. The court further ordered publication of the order on its official website, thereby enabling the defendant company to become aware of its contents without requiring separate service.

Attached is the original judgment: