The Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China has ruled in favor of Rieter in a legal dispute concerning the patents and registered designs of its machinery. The case concerned the infringement of a Rieter patent by a competitor’s draw frame, which are known for their stable operation with high sliver quality and productivity.  Draw frames have already been the subject of a patent litigation by Rieter in China at various levels of jurisdiction.

In mid-2022, Rieter’s claim that a competitor was unauthorized in its use of patented draw frame technology, was confirmed by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, prohibiting the accused competitor to use the patented technology. The infringing party was also ordered to pay damages to Rieter.

The competitor then appealed the decision of the Shanghai court to the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China, which upheld the decision in a ruling made in December 2023. As a result, Rieter’s competitor is prohibited from selling the infringing machine types and is required to pay the damages determined by the court.

This Supreme Court decision represents a major success for Rieter in defending its proprietary technologies in China. It is further proof that foreign companies can effectively defend their intellectual property in China. As the technology leader in spinning machinery manufacturing, Rieter invests around 5% of its turnover annually in research and development. Rieter protects its innovative products with patents and registered designs and takes consistent action against infringements of industrial property rights.