European Union: Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

A Munich Local Division ruling addresses whether a counterclaim for patent revocation that transitions from unconditional to conditional status—dependent on a finding of infringement—remains subject to unconditional limitation requirements under Rule 263.3 of the Rules of Procedure. The case involves Papst Licensing's infringement action against Roborock entities concerning EP 3 030 943, with implications for procedural strategy in UPC patent disputes.

Luxembourg and Belgium offer robust legal frameworks for arbitration proceedings, with comprehensive procedures for challenging and enforcing arbitral awards. Legal professionals can leverage detailed insights into post-award proceedings, recognition mechanisms, and remedies available through the courts in both jurisdictions.

The UPC Court of Appeal has issued its first comprehensive guidance on handling infringement claims based on non-UPC patent designations, establishing a structured framework for exercising extra-territorial jurisdiction. This landmark decision clarifies when the UPC will accept jurisdiction over foreign patent designations and under what conditions it will rule on infringement, with significant implications for patent holders and multinational defendants operating across European borders.

The European Patent Office has released significant updates to its Case Law of the Boards of Appeal, incorporating landmark decisions that reshape how prior art is assessed, claims are interpreted, and appeal procedures are conducted. These changes reflect pivotal rulings from the Technical and Enlarged Boards of Appeal that practitioners should understand for effective EPO proceedings.

A Cyprus District Court has declared a forged power of attorney void and annulled the transfers of 23 high-value properties that were fraudulently transferred using the falsified document.

A Cyprus Court of Appeal judgment provides crucial guidance on recognizing English court judgments in Cyprus, examining third-party litigation funding arrangements, and clarifying when recognition may be refused on public policy grounds. The decision addresses the narrow grounds for challenging foreign judgment recognition and confirms that properly structured litigation funding does not violate Cyprus public policy.

Het Italiaanse bedrijf Loro Piana, onderdeel van het LVMH-concern, heeft opnieuw een belangrijke overwinning geboekt in zijn strijd om bescherming van het herkenbare uiterlijk van zijn populaire White Sole-schoenen. De rechtbank van Turijn heeft het in Parijs gevestigde Parijan SAS verboden om schoenen te produceren en te verkopen die volgens haar te sterk lijken op de Summer Walk- en Open Walk-modellen van Loro Piana.

The long-awaited decision of the Joint Civil Sections of the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation (Sezioni Unite) has finally arrived. With Judgment No. 24045 of 26 July 2026, the Court addressed one of the most controversial questions surrounding Italian citizenship by descent, often referred to as the “minor issue” (questione dei minori).

Cyprus introduces significant reforms to its out-of-court financial dispute resolution framework through Law 87(I)/2026, establishing binding decisions by the Financial Ombudsman for monetary compensations up to €20,000. The amendments strengthen debtor protections during mortgaged property disposal procedures while maintaining judicial review rights and introducing new timelines for complaint submissions and debt restructuring negotiations.