Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications v Koninklijke KPN (CFI, 7 April 2026)

Dhenne Avocats · 10 October 2026

Our analysis

Summary

By order of 7 April 2026, the President of the Court of First Instance grants the application of Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications and Orope Germany, defendants in the infringement action brought by Koninklijke KPN on EP 3 349 412 before the Düsseldorf Local Division (UPC_CFI_249/2026), and replaces German with English, the language in which the patent was granted. As KPN agreed to the change, the only open issue was the time limit for translating the statement of claim and two annexes. The order is of limited reach. It confirms that this time limit is set having regard to the interests of all parties.

Question

Where the claimant agrees to a change to the language of grant, within what period must it file translations of its statement of claim and the relevant exhibits?

Decision

On the basis of Rule 323.3, English becomes the language of the proceedings for all subsequent steps. The defendants sought translations of the statement of claim and Annexes K_10 and K_17 within two weeks, KPN asked for three. Noting that these documents run to 63 pages, and having regard to the date of effective service and the defendants’ subsequent time limits, the President sets the deadline at 24 April 2026 (section 2). An appeal lies within 15 days of service of the order on the applicants.

Key points for practice

• Once the claimant consents to the change of language, the dispute narrows to the translation timetable, which is set by reference to the volume of documents and the defence timetable (section 2).

Provisions applied

Agreement on a Unified Patent Court

Art. 73(2)(a)

Rules of Procedure

Rules 220, 323 and 324

Prepared by Dhenne Avocats from the official decision, consulted on 10 October 2026. The database is updated every week, on Friday. Only the official text is authoritative.