On 20 April 2026, the Mannheim Regional Division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) issued an interim order in the cross-border patent dispute between Nokia and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Case No. UPC_CFI_1291/2026): In ex parte proceedings without prior hearing of the respondent’s views, the court granted Nokia’s application for an Anti-Anti Suit Injunction (AASI), prohibiting Geely from applying to Chinese courts for an ‘Interim Licence’ or any other procedural measures that might affect the ongoing patent litigation before the UPC. The order further stipulates that any breach of the injunction may result in a coercive fine of up to €50 million.

This ruling stems from a patent infringement dispute previously initiated by both parties in Europe. In 2025, Nokia filed two separate actions before the UPC concerning the relevant patents, under case numbers UPC_CFI_661/2025 and UPC_CFI_662/2025, relating to European Patents EP 3 799 333 and EP 4 090 075. These cases are currently pending.

In this application, Nokia argued that Geely might seek to exert a de facto influence on the UPC proceedings by seeking “provisional licences” or similar measures in Chinese courts. On this basis, on 16 April 2026, it filed an urgent application with the Mannheim Regional Division, requesting the court to adopt interim measures to restrict such conduct.

In its order, the court acknowledged this risk and issued an injunction directly under ex parte proceedings. The interval between the filing of the application and the issuance of the order was merely four days. According to the order, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is not only required to refrain from carrying out the relevant acts itself, but is also required to exert influence over its affiliated companies (including Hangzhou Geely New Energy Vehicle Sales Co., Ltd.) to ensure that none of the relevant entities file requests for “provisional licences” or proceedings with similar effects in Chinese courts.

Furthermore, given the urgency of the case, the court made special arrangements requiring the applicant’s legal representatives to serve the relevant documents directly upon Geely’s legal representatives in the main UPC proceedings via the German lawyers’ electronic communication system (beA). The order also noted that the power of attorney in the main proceedings extends to these interim proceedings, and that the relevant lawyers are required to receive and forward the documents. In accordance with the ruling, Geely’s legal representatives are required to confirm receipt of the documents by 14:00 on 21 April 2026. Should they refuse to accept or forward the documents on behalf of the associated entities, the court has indicated that it will consider alternative methods, such as service by public notice, to proceed with the proceedings.

To date, Geely has not issued a public response to this ruling.

Attached: Ruling