This is a summary of developments in and around the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in the week since our February 14, 2026 UPC Roundup.
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8. Around the court
8.1 UPC decisions cited by Federal Court of Justice of Germany
The Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice of Germany) rejected a petition by the European Commission and HMD to make a preliminary reference to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) concerning access to standard-essential patent (SEP) injunctions. It held that there is no reasonable doubt as to how to interpret the ECJ’s 2015 Huawei v. ZTE decision and therefore no need for a referral.
In denying the request, the court pointed to what it described as a common EU-wide understanding of Huawei v. ZTE. In that context, it cited SEP injunction decisions by the Mannheim LD and Munich LD alongside national court rulings in Germany and the Netherlands. According to the court, these decisions demonstrate a shared view that Huawei v. ZTE does not mandate a particular sequence in analyzing the parties’ conduct in FRAND negotiations.
8.2 Five newly appointed legally qualified judges to take oath across Europe in March
The UPC will formally swear in five newly appointed legally qualified judges in a series of public ceremonies across Europe in early March 2026, following their appointment by the Administrative Committee on November 4, 2025. In accordance with Article 6 of the UPC Statute, each judge must take an oath in open court before assuming judicial duties.
Ms. Ina Schnurr will take the oath at the Munich LD on March 2, followed later that day by Mr. Robert van Peursem at the Hague LD. On March 3, Ms. Goda AmbrasaitÄ—-BalynienÄ— will be sworn in before the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division in Stockholm. Mr. Ingo Rinken will take the oath at the Dusseldorf LD on March 9, and Mr. Thomas Adocker will be sworn in at the CD Munich on March 12.