Hong Kong-listed Seyond Holdings Ltd. (Seyond) has outlined the first-instance outcomes of four patent infringement suits brought by Hesai Technology before the Ningbo Intermediate People’s Court, confirming that aggregate risk to operations and finances remains contained.
Litigation status • Four cases were concluded at first instance. One action was dismissed after the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) fully invalidated the patent involved (ZL202422199332.9). • Two suits ((2025) Zhe 02 Min Chu Nos. 1632 and 1633) were voluntarily withdrawn by Hesai/Hertz Technology on 13 July 2026; CNIPA’s invalidation reviews for the related patents remain pending following April 2026 hearings. • In the remaining case ((2025) Zhe 02 Zhi Min Chu No. 79), the court upheld Seyond’s prior-art defence on 12 of 14 asserted claims, finding infringement only under dependent claim 18. Damages were set at RMB0.40 million versus the RMB5.00 million originally sought by Hesai. The judgment also ordered cessation of infringement, but enforcement is on hold pending appeal.
Appeal and invalidation proceedings Seyond is assessing an appeal against the sole partially adverse ruling. Under PRC civil procedure, the judgment is unenforceable until final appellate review concludes, leaving Seyond under no immediate obligation to pay compensation or halt product sales. Concurrent CNIPA invalidation petitions remain unresolved; if successful, the contested patent claims could be annulled, nullifying the infringement finding.
Operational implications The adverse finding concerns one optical component in the Robin E1X LiDAR model. Internal assessments indicate the design can be upgraded to avoid future infringement without material disruption to production, sales or R&D. Management therefore expects no significant impact on current operations or strategic development.
Financial exposure To date, Seyond faces a potential liability of RMB0.40 million (approximately 0.40 million), subject to appeal. The Board believes that, given the dismissal or withdrawal of three cases, the modest award in the fourth, and the prospect of patent invalidation, the overall litigation risk is manageable and should not materially affect the Group’s financial position or outlook.
Seyond will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further disclosures in accordance with Hong Kong listing requirements.
Comments