On 12 March 2025, a pivotal hearing took place before the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal – the highest EPO Board of Appeal, with Dehns Partner Neil Campbell representing Borealis AG in a case that could reshape key aspects of European patent law.

At Dehns we are proud to be partnered with clients who drive change through innovation and sustainable solutions. On World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, we celebrate the incredible work our clients are doing to address some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. From eco-friendly construction materials to renewable energy products for the home, these innovators are proving that engineering can—and must—be a force for positive change.

At Dehns, we’re always inspired by the innovative work of our clients. We’re delighted to announce that two of them have been nominated by CIPA for the prestigious Earthshot Prize; an award that celebrates ground-breaking solutions to some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Printing giants Hewlett-Packard (“HP”) brought a claim of infringement against French electronics wholesaler LAMA France (“LAMA”) before the Paris Local Division of the UPC at the end of last year, from which they came out (partially) victorious.

On 1^st May 2025, Phase 1 of the EUIPO’s design reform came into effect. This is made up of The Amending Regulation (Regulation – EU – 2024/2822) and The Recast Directive (Directive – EU – 2024/2823). This will be followed by Phase 2, which will bring further amendments, and will apply from 1 July 2026.

Many of the changes brought about by this reform are motivated by a desire to align EU design law with the world around us, which is increasingly manifesting in digital forms. One of those changes is the formalisation of protection for animated designs.

Huawei brought an action in the Munich local division against Netgear for infringement of EP3611989 in relation to various of its WiFi access point products. Huawei had declared EP’989 to be essential to the IEEE 802.11ax (“WiFi 6”) standard and so was obliged to offer a licence on Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) terms. However, no licence could be agreed.

Netgear made a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the UPC to hear the case, counterclaimed for revocation of EP’989 and raised several infringement defences: that EP’989 was not in fact essential to WiFi 6 (i.e. non-infringement), that Huawei’s rights had been exhausted by prior EU supply of the allegedly-infringing products, and that Huawei had failed to offer a FRAND licence as it was obliged.

Huawei prevailed on almost all issues. With the added motivation for Netgear of an impending injunction, the parties reached a settlement in early 2025, so we will not see the various issues tested at appeal.

Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic) brought an infringement action against Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd and OROPE Germany GmBH (OPPO), accusing OPPO of infringing Panasonic’s patent EP 2 568 724 in their 4G-capable products including smartphones and smartwatches. OPPO counterclaimed that they were not given a fair opportunity to obtain a FRAND license, and also counterclaimed for the invalidity of the patent. Emily Dekker, Trainee Patent Attorney discusses this matter in more detail.