Unified Patent Court Banned MGI Tech Device Sales
The ruling halts CycloneSEQ sales across eight European nations, citing likely infringement of Oxford Nanopore patents.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Biotech
Live Poll
Should courts limit patent enforcement when it results in higher prices for new technologies?
The Munich local division of the Unified Patent Court has issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting MGI Tech GmbH from selling its CycloneSEQ devices. This legal action spans eight countries, including the UK, following findings that Oxford Nanopore Technologies' patents are likely valid.
Why it matters
The court implemented this injunction to prevent potential market destabilization and price erosion caused by aggressive discounting. By invoking long-arm jurisdiction, the ruling signals a significant enforcement effort to protect intellectual property in the competitive DNA sequencing sector.
The court acted after reviewing evidence of a 50% discount on CycloneSEQ services, identifying a direct threat of market price erosion. These proceedings currently affect MGI Tech across eight European states out of the 18 active UPC contracting member states.
The players
Oxford Nanopore Technologies
A company specializing in portable, real-time DNA and RNA sequencing devices using nanopore sensing technology.
MGI Tech GmbH
A subsidiary of the Beijing Genomics Institute that manufactures and sells genomic sequencing hardware and services.
The details
Oxford Nanopore Technologies sought the injunction after a LinkedIn post promoted discounted services for the CycloneSEQ platform, which utilizes nanopore sequencing—a method that passes DNA strands through microscopic protein pores to measure electrical current fluctuations. The court substantiated the claim using promotional video footage showing an MGI device at a premises in Berlin. This ruling applies the Unified Patent Court's long-arm jurisdiction, extending the reach of the German-based court into non-participating territories like the UK.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: The court ruling was published.
The Tech Race
This injunction follows a pattern set by the European Unified Patent Court's enforcement of cross-border patent injunctions. It marks a significant escalation in the ongoing intellectual property race between nanopore sequencing incumbents and emerging platform competitors.
This ruling immediately halts the availability of CycloneSEQ hardware and services within the eight identified European countries. Researchers and clinical labs relying on these specific platforms for sequencing workflows will need to assess potential service disruptions while legal proceedings continue.
The takeaway
The court's decision establishes a firm barrier for MGI Tech's expansion within the European market. Observers should watch for the upcoming outcomes of parallel proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of England and Wales.
Further reading
For more on the developments shaping the field, visit our Biotech section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pinsent Masons.
Live Poll
Should courts limit patent enforcement when it results in higher prices for new technologies?
