If imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, Teradyne Robotics has had sufficient compliments for one yr.
Teradyne Robotics, the mother or father firm of cobot arm maker Common Robots, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in opposition to a German subsidiary of Chinese language robotics firm JAKA. The case alleges that JAKA infringed patents overlaying each {hardware} and software program utilized in Common Robots’ collaborative robots.
The lawsuit is Teradyne Robotics’ second main case involving a Chinese language robotics firm in Europe this yr. In February 2026, the corporate sued Elite Robots’ German subsidiary over alleged copyright infringement.
In April, the Regional Courtroom of Hamburg issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Elite Robots Germany from providing the disputed software program and merchandise containing it in Germany. The case remains to be ongoing.
The JAKA case is totally different. “It is a patent case the place the opposite one was about copyright,” David Brandt, vp of analysis and growth and chief expertise officer at Common Robots, advised The Robotic Report. “It’s a number of patents this time, and so they cowl each important {hardware} and software program points of our merchandise.”
Teradyne spots cobot similarities
Based on Brandt, Teradyne Robotics grew to become inquisitive about JAKA‘s merchandise after noticing similarities between the 2 firms’ force- and power-limited robotic arms.
“Our robots and the robots of JAKA look fairly alike,” Brandt stated. “We then selected to amass one of many robots and take a deeper have a look at it. Then it grew to become fairly apparent that there’s potential patent infringement on this.”
Teradyne Robotics stated the lawsuit includes a variety of JAKA collaborative robots marketed within the European Union. The corporate filed the case with the Unified Patent Courtroom (UPC) Native Division in Copenhagen as a result of alleged acts of infringement occurred in Denmark and different EU member states.
EU ruling has broad implications
A ruling from the UPC might have broad geographic implications. Based on Teradyne Robotics, a ruling might take impact throughout 17 of the 18 EU member states taking part within the UPC, in addition to in sure international locations exterior the UPC Settlement, together with the U.Okay. and Spain.
The Robotic Report reached out to JAKA for remark, however didn’t hear again at press time.
“This case is one other clear demonstration that Teradyne Robotics will implement its patents and mental property (IP) rights in opposition to what we take into account to be unlawful and unfair copying and infringement, throughout each {hardware} and software program,” said Teradyne Robotics Group President Jean-Pierre Hathout.
“We can not and won’t settle for firms that unlawfully copy protected applied sciences, and we’re resolute in safeguarding our IP so prospects can proceed to have progressive automation options that meet the very best requirements for security and compliance,” he added.
UR Collection cobots from Common Robots.
Evaluating cobot portfolios
The dispute places two collaborative robotic portfolios underneath the microscope. Common Robots at present divides its robotic arms primarily between its UR Collection and e-Collection. The UR Collection consists of the UR8 Lengthy, UR15, UR18, UR20 and UR30. Payloads vary from 10 kg on the UR8 Lengthy to 35 kg on the UR30, whereas attain extends to 1,750 mm on the UR8 Lengthy and UR20.
The e-Collection is aimed toward extra compact and general-purpose automation. It at present consists of the UR3e, UR7e, UR12e and UR16e. Payloads vary from 3 kg to 16 kg, with reaches from 500 mm to 1,300 mm.
JAKA’s portfolio is equally in depth. Its present lineup consists of the Zu, Professional, S, AL, A and Mini collection, together with the MiniCobo. The Zu household consists of the Zu3, Zu5, Zu7, Zu12, Zu18, Zu20 and Zu30. The Professional household consists of the Pro5, Pro12 and Pro16.
The Zu collection is JAKA’s broad general-purpose cobot household. For instance, the Zu5 presents a 5-kg payload and 954-mm attain, whereas the Zu12 carries 12 kg to a 1,327-mm working radius and the Zu18 carries 18 kg to 1,073 mm.
The Professional collection is designed for extra demanding environments and carries an IP68 ranking. It consists of the Pro5, Pro12 and Pro16, with payloads of 5, 12 and 16 kg, respectively. The Pro16 presents a 1,713-mm attain and is positioned for functions together with palletizing, machine tending, sharpening, grinding, and welding.
JAKA’s cobot lineup.
Lawsuit will not be about China, says Teradyne
Brandt emphasised that Teradyne’s resolution was not pushed by JAKA’s Chinese language possession. “To us, it’s not about China,” he stated. “It’s about different firms copying stuff that we designed, whether or not they’re Chinese language or not.”
Teradyne Robotics has lengthy maintained a big mental property portfolio overlaying its robotic expertise. Brandt stated the corporate makes use of patents, copyrights and trade-secret protections, however acknowledged the elemental issue of defending robots as soon as they’re commercially accessible.
“You must construct the robotic and ship it to a buyer to have a robotic,” he stated. “And, in fact, some competitor can purchase the robotic, take it aside, and have a look at how we design stuff.”
“We welcome competitors and we expect competitors is wholesome,” added Brandt. “However we have now a contest the place we make massive investments in creating what we consider is a superb product, having good high quality, having a really secure product, numerous funding going into that. It’s fairly costly to develop such a product, after which having one other firm merely steal your improvements and copying it. That’s the place we’re attempting to place our foot down.”
Editor’s observe: James Davidson, chief AI officer at Teradyne Robotics, will communicate at RoboBusiness 2026. The occasion takes place Oct. 20 and 21 in Santa Clara, Calif., and appeal to 1,500+ attends from the robotics growth neighborhood. Register now to attend.
Register now and save in your go to RoboBusiness 2026Common Robots needs JAKA to cease
Brandt stated Teradyne’s main goal isn’t monetary compensation. “Ideally, we wish them to cease copying and infringing our IP,” he stated. “This isn’t predominantly for getting cash out of JAKA. That is extra to ship a really clear sign that they should cease copying our merchandise.”
Brandt additionally sees a possible security challenge. Common Robots helped set up the marketplace for collaborative robots designed to function in proximity to individuals, topic to applicable danger evaluation and security measures. Brandt stated the proliferation of copycat merchandise that don’t meet the identical requirements might create dangers past the businesses concerned on this dispute.
“If they don’t seem to be as secure as they need to be, and within the worst-case situation result in any individual getting critically harm by these merchandise, there’s in fact a danger that this might replicate badly on the complete trade,” he stated.
That would lead regulators and workplace-safety authorities to view collaborative robots extra broadly as a security downside, Brandt stated.
“So we’re involved,” he stated. “Principally, in fact, we’re involved about individuals getting harm. However there’s additionally, in fact, a enterprise aspect to that downside.”
Competitors within the cobot market
Teradyne Robotics’ two lawsuits underscore the aggressive nature of the collaborative robotic market. Common Robots has offered greater than 100,000 cobots and has spent greater than a decade constructing an ecosystem round its robotic arms, software program, and equipment.
Teradyne Robotics generated $100 million in income in Q2 2026. The $100 million in quarterly income is a rise from the $91 million that its made in Q1 2026.
The North Studying, Mass.-based firm marked its fifth consecutive quarter of progress. It additionally reported 33% year-over-year income progress from Q2 2025, when it made $75 million. A lot of the $100 million got here from Common Robots, whereas the remainder was generated by its AMR subsidiary Cell Industrial Robots (MiR).
On the identical time, the market has attracted an increasing variety of rivals, together with firms from China providing cobots at aggressive value factors. Brandt stated that pattern will not be essentially dangerous for Common Robots.
“The worldwide market is rising,” he stated. “There are simply extra firms attempting to do the identical factor, so in that respect, in fact, the competitors is heating up.”
The issue, in Teradyne Robotics’ view, is the place competitors crosses into alleged copying of protected expertise.
And Brandt instructed that JAKA will not be the final firm that Teradyne Robotics challenges. “We don’t see this as a one-time factor,” he stated. “We’re devoted to aggressively defending our IP, and JAKA will not be the one robotic on the market that appears suspiciously like ours.”
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