JAKA Hits Back at Teradyne Robotics Over Patent Dispute

Teradyne Robotics, the parent of Universal Robots, sued JAKA Robotics’ German subsidiary last week, alleging infringement of patents covering hardware and software in cobot arms. JAKA has now hit back, saying it has gone to court to seek an injunction against Teradyne’s “false, misleading, and damaging” public statements about the lawsuit.

JAKA said it received no direct communication from Teradyne or its legal representatives about the alleged infringement, and had not seen any legal documents or court notices. The company said it learned of the allegations only through Teradyne’s social media announcement and press inquiries. As of Sept. 2, its legal advisers found no patent infringement proceedings had been filed or opened against it, and The Robot Report could not locate any court documents either.

JAKA denied the substance of the allegations, stating that it develops its own technology through years of independent R&D and holds more than 300 granted patents worldwide. It also commissioned two independent freedom-to-operate analyses before entering the European market, and neither flagged any infringement concerns.

JAKA also rejected suggestions that its products are lower quality or less safe, saying such statements are tied to “the company’s Chinese origin” and are unsubstantiated. It argued that collaborative robot safety depends on the full application, including design, integration, configuration and risk assessment, rather than the manufacturer’s country of origin. The company characterized Teradyne’s public statements as an attempt to create “anti-competitive uncertainty” in the market.

Teradyne Robotics responded to The Robot Report. David Brandt, vice president of R&D and chief technology officer at Universal Robots, said the case has been filed with the courts in Copenhagen. He noted that if it has not yet been served to JAKA, it may be due to court timelines, but JAKA should receive it shortly.

Regarding JAKA’s freedom-to-operate analyses, Brandt said they apparently failed to identify Teradyne’s patents. He added that the number of patents JAKA holds is irrelevant, as the case concerns infringement, and the strength of patents matters, not quantity. In relation to JAKA’s legal action in Germany, he said Teradyne is not concerned and has every right to defend its intellectual property.

In a full statement, JAKA announced it has initiated legal action in response to Teradyne’s public allegations. The company said it is seeking injunctive relief to protect its reputation, legitimate business interests and the trust of its customers, partners and system integrators. JAKA reiterated that serious allegations must be addressed through verifiable facts and the appropriate legal process, not public claims that create anti-competitive uncertainty.

JAKA rejected any characterization that it unlawfully copied Universal Robots’ technology, pointing to its independent development and more than 300 granted patents. It also rejected Teradyne’s quality and safety claims as unsubstantiated and based on its Chinese origin. The company said safety depends on the complete application, including design, integration, configuration and risk assessment. JAKA confirmed that it remains fully committed to European customers and partners, continuing normal operations, and will provide further information as appropriate.