CJEU expands jurisdiction in cross-border patent infringement cases with BSH–Electrolux decision

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

CJEU expands jurisdiction in cross-border patent infringement cases with BSH–Electrolux decision

Sponsored by

gunpartners-400px.png
Court of Justice of the European Union.jpg

Selin Sinem Erciyas and Beste Turan Kurtoğlu of Gün + Partners analyse a Court of Justice of the European Union ruling that could reshape patent litigation strategies and increase competition between international courts

On February 25 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rendered a groundbreaking judgment in the patent infringement case between BSH Hausgeräte GmbH and Electrolux AB, marking a significant ruling not only in Europe but worldwide. This decision is expected to pave the way for the expansion of jurisdiction in patent cases in EU member states and increase competition among courts in the international arena.

Background to the case

The dispute was brought before the CJEU as a preliminary ruling procedure and concerns a patent infringement action filed by BSH against Electrolux before a Swedish domestic court. In this infringement action, BSH alleged that Electrolux infringed national parts of a European patent relating to vacuum cleaner technology that had been validated in various EU member states, including Sweden, and in Turkey (officially Türkiye).

In its defence, Electrolux claimed that the relevant patent was invalid and argued that, in infringement actions where patent invalidity is asserted as a defence, infringement and invalidity cannot be dissociated and that the courts of the states and Turkey in which those patents are validated have exclusive jurisdiction over the dispute. The Swedish domestic court, in its decision dated December 21 2020, ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over patent infringement proceedings concerning national patents in other EU member states and in Turkey that were obtained by validating a European patent.

BSH appealed this decision before a Swedish court of appeal, claiming that the Swedish courts would also have jurisdiction over infringement proceedings relating to national patents validated in other EU member states and in Turkey. The Swedish court of appeal requested a preliminary ruling from the CJEU on whether the Swedish courts would have jurisdiction in a dispute concerning the infringement of validations of a European patent in the member states and in Turkey.

The CJEU’s decision and its implications for patent owners

In its judgment, the CJEU determined that the court of the EU member state in which the defendant is domiciled has jurisdiction to hear a patent infringement action concerning a patent granted in another EU member state or in a state other than an EU member state, even if the defendant challenges the validity of the patent subject to that action. In this context, the CJEU’s rendering enables infringement actions in relation to validated European patents, and that have entered the national phase in Turkey, to be brought before the courts of EU member states, if the defendant has a domicile in that EU member state.

As a result, it is predicted that this decision of the CJEU will provide patent owners with a wider range of options regarding the choice of jurisdiction in multinational patent disputes, leading to competition among states, and will fundamentally change the strategies for international patent litigation.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Speakers at the EUIPO’s IP Mediation Conference discussed how lawyers can act in tandem with clients during mediation, and the importance of showing a united front
A report that revealed top legal LinkedIn influencers are generating hundreds of thousands in advertising value is the push lawyers need to up their social media presence
Speakers at the EUIPO’s Mediation Conference say mediation can offer a ‘cathartic’ and effective alternative to litigation that IP owners should consider
Partner Scott Sudderth says he is looking forward to building strong client relationships and expanding the firm’s patent practice
Find out which firms secured the most nominations for Managing IP’s Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, ahead of the winners being revealed on November 6
Raluca Vasilescu joins our ‘Five minutes with’ series to discuss patent mining and watercolour painting
Jan Phillip Rektorschek, founding partner at Pentarc in Germany, explains why the firm broke away from Taylor Wessing and discusses its plans for staying competitive
Royal Mail Group wins copyright and database right infringement case, in a dispute that can be linked to the history of postcodes in the UK
Managing partner Mark O’Donnell explains why people are at the centre of the Australian outfit’s investment focus and how being independent benefits the firm
IP is becoming one of the most significant drivers of major deals, and law firms are altering their practices to reflect the change
Gift this article