JUVE Comment

This Munich-based patent attorney firm has built an excellent reputation in litigation concerning communications technology, semiconductors and electronics patents. While its small prosecution practice focuses on these technical sectors, the team around Thomas Hell and Rudolf Reichold primarily handles long-running litigation campaigns for patent owners and NPEs against implementers. The firm maintains limited involvement in other technical fields. Its most notable and successful ongoing campaign is that for VoiceAge against HMD, Oppo and Vivo concerning speech coding for mobile devices. The firm recently secured a significant victory against HMD in a landmark case on SEPs and FRAND at the Higher Regional Court Munich. In this campaign, the patent attorneys work seamlessly alongside lawyers from independent firm Wildanger.

The two firms have developed an almost symbiotic relationship in NPE litigation, jointly conducting extensive cases for clients including Atlas Global, Crystal Clear Codec and K.Mizra. Nevertheless, both maintain their independence. Bosch Jehle also collaborates with other firms – for instance, representing Pantech (with Ampersand and Mayer Brown) and Wilan (with Arnold Ruess).

European set-up

Bosch Jehle regularly coordinates pan-European proceedings for its NPE clients. However, NPEs have shown less enthusiasm for the UPC than initially anticipated during its first two years. Consequently, Bosch Jehle’s UPC litigation activity has lagged behind some competitors. This changed when Atlas Global, supported by Bosch Jehle and Wildanger, filed four infringement suits against TP-Link and Vantiva at the UPC. As NPE clients gain confidence in the court, Bosch Jehle and its partner firms are likely to launch new campaigns before both national courts and the UPC, allowing the patent attorneys to better leverage their litigation experience and technical expertise at the UPC.

However, the firm’s relatively small size may constrain its ability to handle an increased workload from UPC proceedings. Moderate expansion could unlock additional potential in this area.

Strengths

Litigation involving mobile communications, semiconductors and software patents for patent holders.

Recommended individuals

Thomas Hell (“very good in the courtroom and sound technical knowledge”, competitor), Rudolf Reichold (“has extensive litigation experience and knows how to use it”, competitor; both patent attorneys)

Team

11 patent attorneys

Clients

Litigation: VoiceAge EVS against HMD, Oppo and Vivo over speech coding for mobile devices; Top Quality Telephony against various implementers over speech coding for mobile devices; Crystal Clear Codec against Oppo over speech coding for mobile devices; AtlasGlobal against TP-Link and Vantiva over wi-fi 6 technology; Pantech against Google and Wiko over LTE standard; WiLan against Telefonica over LTE standard; K.Mizra against Niantic and Samsung over technology for smart-battery management; Netlist against Google, Micron and Samsung over storage modules.