Bobcat challenges competitors Caterpillar and Zeppelin with Quinn Emanuel

Bobcat has initiated a broad-based campaign against its competitor Caterpillar. JUVE Patent is not aware of any previous lawsuits in Europe involving Bobcat or Caterpillar.

In early December, Bobcat sued Caterpillar in a Texas federal court and at a US trade tribunal, where it is seeking an import restriction. In Texas, Bobcat is demanding compensation from Caterpillar.

Five lawsuits in Europe

In Europe, the action is for an cease and desist against the alleged infringement. At the UPC local division Mannheim under presiding judge Peter Tochtermann, Bobcat sued Caterpillar for infringement of two patents (case IDs: UPC_CFI_0001810/2025 and UPC_CFI_0001811/2025). Dirk Boettcher and Carine Gillet are also on the panel.

Three patents are also in dispute at the Regional Court Munich (case IDs: 7 O 15121/25, 7 O 15124/25 and 7 O 15125/25). The 7th Civil Chamber under presiding judge Oliver Schön is responsible for the proceedings.

In all five proceedings, Bobcat is seeking cease and desist, recall, removal and destruction of the allegedly infringing products as well as damages. At the UPC, Bobcat has not only sued Caterpillar as the manufacturer but also its European distribution partner Zeppelin.

Serious allegations

According to media reports, Bobcat is accusing Caterpillar not only of infringing its patents, but also of deliberately imitating its products.

Bobcat is suing over 14 patents in total. They relate to various functions of the compact excavators, such as manoeuvrability, performance, efficiency and energy consumption. Bobcat claims they are fundamental to the strength, versatility and precision of the excavators.

The patents-in-suit at the UPC, EP 2 162 311 and EP 2 347 054, protect a “dive control system for a vehicle and method” and an “integrated hydraulic or electric line clutch” respectively.

EP 1 887 148, which protects an “external control system for a working machine or vehicle”, and EP 2 255 258 and EP 3 535 458, which protect a “carrier and excavator control system and method” and a “system and method for defining an operating zone for a lifting arm”, respectively, are pending before the Regional Court Munich. Bobcat filed four of the European patents with Vossius & Partner and one with Appelyard Lees.

Quinn Emanuel for Bobcat

Quinn Emanuel’s German practice is representing Bobcat for the first time. A large team under lead of Mannheim-based partner Marcus Grosch and Stuttgart-based partner Jesko Preuß prepared the two UPC actions.

The team also includes counsel Andreas Hahne from Munich, who will be appointed partner at the turn of the year. Counsel Tina Steinke, Michael Krenz and Holger Hiss are also on the team. The associates include Armin Giesen, Sandra Wandt, Isabel Ruigewaard, Heiko Ullrich, Felix Hartisch, Lea Mielentz, Felix Probstmeyer, Hanna Rieß, Charlotte Vollenberg, and Johannes Blöcher.

Quinn Emanuel also represents Bobcat in the US trials.

Meissner Bolte for Zeppelin

On the defendant side, only Zeppelin has appointed its representatives so far. The two Meissner Bolte partners Jasper Werhahn and Andreas Kabisch. Their law firm has a long-standing client relationship.

JUVE Patent does not yet know which lawyers are representing Caterpillar in the UPC proceedings. Service on the US company is still ongoing. According to JUVE Patent information, a Maucher Jenkins team led by patent attorney Philipp Nordmeyer, who recently moved from df-mp, files patent applications at the EPO for Caterpillar.