Munich Regional Court hands Murata injunctions in SAW-filter dispute with Maxscend

At the heart of the dispute, which is also playing out at the UPC as well as in China and Korea, lie patents protecting so-called SAW filters (surface acoustic wave filters). They are a key component in mobile communications, enabling the filtering of radio frequency signals in wireless devices such as smartphones and tablets. Such end user devices receive various different signals, for example wi-fi and GPS, 4G/5G. With the use of SAW-filters, the device can filter the receiving signals to ensure stable connections.

Murata is one of the leading global suppliers of such components, while Maxscend has in recent years expanded its RF front-end business and supplies components used in handsets of major manufacturers.

Murata Manufacturing owns EP 3 007 358 B1 and DE 11 2015 005 349 B4, the two patents-in-suit at the Regional Court Munich. The Japanese manufacturer of electronic components sued the Chinese competitor Maxscend for infringement. The semiconductor company in turn filed nullity actions at the German Federal Patent court (case IDs: 5 Ni 17/26 and 5 Ni 25/26).

A parallel infringement action and counterclaim for revocation is pending a the UPC over EP 2 658 123 B1 (case IDs: UPC_CFI_1873/2025 and UPC-CFI-0002940/2026).

Samsung devices affected

EP 358 B1 protects an elastic wave filter device featuring resonators with specific interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode structures. The claims cover a particular configuration of busbars with cavities and electrode fingers forming regions of differing acoustic velocity. The court found infringement and granted damages dating back to 23 November 2019 (case ID: 7 O 14074/25).

The 7th Civil Chamber of the Regional Court Munich ordered Maxscend Microelectronics to cease the distribution of certain SAW filter devices in Germany. The chamber, led by presiding judge Oliver Schön alongside judges Katalin Tözsér and Florian Schweyer, also ordered the recall of infringing products from commercial distribution channels and granted Murata Electronics Europe claims for information, rendering of accounts and damages.

The injunctions cover the filter components from Maxscend as such, as well as mobile devices from Samsung such as smartphones and tablets, that incorporate the infringing Maxscend SAW-filters. The scope is expressly limited to Samsung handsets on the German market to the extent they include infringing Maxscend SAW-filters. Lower-court enforcement is possible against security of €1.8 million for the combined injunction and recall claims per case.

Quick and cheap

DE 11 2015 005 349 B4 covers an elastic wave device with a piezoelectric film laminated onto layers of differing acoustic velocity. The structural features of the IDT electrode, including busbar sections with cavities and electrode fingers with wide portions, overlap substantially with the technology at issue in the first case. The court granted a compensation claim for the period from 3 September 2017 to 3 June 2023, covering the time between publication of the application and grant of the patent, and ordered damages for the period following grant (case ID: 7 O 481/26).

The defendants may appeal the judgments to the Higher Regional Court Munich.

This is only one of an increasing number of cases where patent holders from outside Germany and the EU have sought injunctions at a German court. Only a few weeks ago, the Munich Regional Court granted Chinese YMTC an injunction against US competitor Micron. With their reputation for swift decisions and low-cost proceedings compared to other venues such as the US, UK, or even the UPC, German courts — especially the Regional Court Munich — have developed into a go-to court for high tech companies sueing their competitors. As one litigator put it, “Where else in the world can a patent holder get an injunction fast and comparatively cheap?”

Hogan Lovells vs Pentarc

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader represented Murata Electronics Europe in both proceedings, with Munich-based partner Steffen Steininger leading the case. This is the first litigation case the firm has handled for the client in Germany, with Japanese-speaking associate Daniel Kaneko acting as initial contact during his secondment at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader’s office in Tokyo.

Maximilian Ferling and Fabian Langer are also part of the team. Patent attorney partner Andreas Schmid leads the validity cases for Murata together with patent attorney Julian Heep.

Maxscend relied on IP boutique Pentarc, with partners Thomas Pattloch and Jan Phillip Rektorschek in the lead. Associates Damian Roscher and Verena Brusius supported the team.

It is the first time the firm has represented the Chinese client, the initial contact stemming from a recommendation by a Chinese law firm. Patent attorney Johannes Trapp of Flach Bauer & Partner provided technical advice in all proceedings, together with Felix Veit Grödl.

In the UPC proceedings, litigator and partner Stefanie Brenner Engmann was also involved. She joined Pentarc in March this year.