BMW Wins Ban on Enforcing U.S. Patents in Germany During Lawsuit

Finnegan client  BMW  won an order from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas blocking Onesta IP LLC from pursuing an injunction in Germany based on U.S. patents while BMW’s U.S. case proceeds. Judge Alan Albright extended the temporary ban, finding that allowing the German action could undermine BMW’s rights under U.S. law, including discovery and jury trial protections. 

The court rejected Onesta’s arguments about convenience and noted several unusual aspects of the dispute, but emphasized that U.S. courts have an interest in ensuring U.S. patents are litigated domestically. Onesta had sued BMW in Germany in October over two U.S. patents and one European patent; BMW filed its Texas suit in December, and the restraining order was issued the next day. 

Read BMW Wins Ban on Enforcing US Patents in Germany During Lawsuit