Teradyne Robotics Intensifies Patent Fight Against Cobot Copycats

Teradyne Robotics, the parent company of collaborative robot arm maker Universal Robots, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against a German subsidiary of Chinese robotics company JAKA. The case alleges that JAKA infringed patents covering both hardware and software used in Universal Robots' cobots.

This is Teradyne Robotics' second major legal action against a Chinese robotics firm in Europe this year. In February 2026, it sued Elite Robots' German subsidiary over copyright infringement. In April, a Hamburg court issued a preliminary injunction against Elite Robots Germany, though that case is ongoing.

David Brandt, vice president of R&D and CTO at Universal Robots, said Teradyne became interested in JAKA after noticing similarities between the two companies' force- and power-limited robot arms. Brandt noted that the robots 'look quite alike,' prompting Teradyne to purchase a JAKA robot for closer inspection, which revealed 'possible patent infringement.'

Teradyne said the lawsuit involves a range of JAKA collaborative robots marketed in the European Union. The case was filed with the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Local Division in Copenhagen because alleged infringements occurred in Denmark and other EU member states.

A ruling from the UPC could have broad geographic implications, potentially applying across 17 of the 18 EU member states participating in the UPC, as well as in certain non-UPC countries such as the U.K. and Spain, according to Teradyne.

Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of Teradyne Robotics Group, stated that the case demonstrates Teradyne's commitment to enforcing its intellectual property rights against 'illegal and unfair copying' across hardware and software. He added that Teradyne 'cannot and will not accept' unlawful copying of protected technologies, ensuring customers receive innovative automation solutions that meet safety and compliance standards.

Universal Robots currently divides its robot arms into the UR Series and e-Series. The UR Series includes models like UR8 Long, UR15, UR18, UR20, and UR30, with payloads from 10 kg to 35 kg and reaches up to 1,750 mm. The e-Series targets compact automation, offering the UR3e, UR7e, UR12e, and UR16e with payloads from 3 kg to 16 kg and reaches from 500 mm to 1,300 mm.

JAKA's portfolio is similarly extensive, featuring the Zu, Pro, S, AL, A, and Mini series. The Zu family provides general-purpose cobots such as the Zu5 (5 kg payload, 954 mm reach), Zu12 (12 kg, 1,327 mm), and Zu18 (18 kg, 1,073 mm). The Pro series is designed for demanding environments with IP68 rating, including the Pro5, Pro12, and Pro16, with payloads of 5, 12, and 16 kg; the Pro16 offers a 1,713-mm reach for palletizing, machine tending, polishing, and welding.