Article 31

International jurisdiction

The international jurisdiction of the Court shall be established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 or, where applicable, on the basis of the Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Lugano Convention).

Case Law:

Court of First Instance

IPPT20250321, UPC CFI, LD Paris, IMC V Mul-T-Lock
Preliminary objection to UPC jurisdiction regarding Spanish, Swiss and UK designations of European patent rejected (Article 4  and article 24  Brussels Ibis regulation. Article 31 UPCA, R 20 RoP). The UPC therefore has jurisdiction to hear the infringement action brought by IMC Créations in respect of the Spanish and Swiss parts, if necessary, by staying the proceedings pending the decision of the national court hearing the action for invalidity, if there was a significant risk that the patent would be invalidated by the court of the State in which the patent was granted. The UPC also has jurisdiction to hear the infringement action brought regarding the British part of the patent and, where appropriate, to rule on the validity of the title, provided that the decision on the plea of invalidity of the patent has only inter partes effect.

IPPT20250128, UPC CFI, LD Düsseldorf, Fujifilm v Kodak
Patent revoked in the territory of all Contracting Member States in which the patent has effect (Article 65 UPCA). Cross border jurisdiction UPC over defendant domiciled in UPC Contracting Member State regarding infringement of UK part of a European patent (R. 20 RoP, Article 4 Brussels Regulation, Article 24 Brussels Regulation). This also applies if the defendant has filed a counterclaim for revocation in respect of the German part of the patent in suit. Even then, as regards the infringement action concerning the United Kingdom, the Unified Patent Court has jurisdiction to hear the case. 

IPPT20250122, UPC CFI, LD Mannheim, Fujifilm v Kodak
Preliminary views and questions for oral hearing (R. 105.5 RoP). Cross border injunction for UK? Panel is inclined to deal with the questions concerned in a separate proceeding after the separation of cases and stay such separate proceeding until a decision has been delivered by the ECJ (Case C-339/22, BSH Hausgeräte v Electrolux). 

IPPT20241010, UPC CFI, LD Düsseldorf, Seoul Viosys v epert e-Commerce - I
UPC has international competence regarding counterclaims for revocation of non-opted out (European) patents (Article 32(1)(e) UPCA, Article 83(3) UPCA, Article 24(4) Brussels I Recast).

IPPT20240704, UPC CFI, LD Paris, DexCom v Abbott 
Brussels Ibis applies to UPC irrespective of article 71c as the UPC is a “common court” (Article 71a Brussels Ibis, Article 31 UPCA). 

IPPT20240619, UPC CFI, LD The Hague, Abbott v Sibio – EP283

International jurisdiction UPC (Article 31 UPCA). After Sibio c.s.’ defence, Abbott indicated that it did not mean to include Ireland, so there is no need to decide on competence with regard thereto. 

IPPT20240619, UPC CFI, LD The Hague, Abbott v Sibio – EP879
International jurisdiction UPC (Article 31 UPCA): competence for Ireland undisputed (Article 26 BR); Court does not understand the application to also involve the UK.