Core Viewpoint - The European Unified Patent Court (UPC) ruled that Ecovacs' request for an ex-parte order against Roborock during the IFA event was unlawful and subsequently revoked the order, highlighting the misuse of the UPC's emergency protection mechanism [1][4][13]. Group 1: Event Background - Ecovacs and Roborock are prominent domestic vacuum cleaner companies that have gained significant market share in Europe in recent years [4]. - During the IFA 2025, Ecovacs claimed that Roborock infringed its EP3808512 patent and sought evidence preservation from the UPC [10]. - The UPC is a supranational court established to address patent litigation across EU member states, providing jurisdiction that surpasses national courts [4]. Group 2: Legal Mechanism - An ex-parte order allows the court to issue orders without hearing the defendant's side, aimed at protecting urgent patent infringement cases [6][7]. - The UPC's emergency measures are designed to prevent the loss of critical evidence that may occur if immediate action is not taken [8][9]. Group 3: Court's Ruling - The UPC determined that Ecovacs' application for the ex-parte order was based on misleading and incomplete factual statements, violating the UPC's procedural rules [15][18]. - The court emphasized that if the facts had been fully disclosed, the ex-parte order would not have been issued, indicating a lack of urgency in the case [19][20]. Group 4: Principles of Ex-Parte Orders - The UPC operates under four key principles for issuing ex-parte orders: truthful representation, urgency, necessity, and proportionality [21][28]. - Ecovacs failed to demonstrate urgency as Roborock's products were already available for purchase on platforms like Amazon, undermining the claim of immediate need for evidence preservation [25][26]. Group 5: Industry Implications - The incident reflects the competitive nature of the cleaning appliance industry, where companies may leverage patent disputes to gain market advantages [35][40]. - The outcome of patent disputes can significantly impact market access, as seen when Roborock successfully sought a sales ban on Ecovacs' products in Germany [40].

Company Overview - Yunji Intelligent completed a $100 million financing round in April 2025, led by Tencent and Beijing Robotics Industry Development Investment Fund, with participation from Sci-Fi Fund and Ming Shi Venture Capital [2] - The company has initiated a Pre-IPO financing round, accelerating its path towards an IPO [2] - Since its establishment in 2016, Yunji has completed 10 financing rounds, accumulating several billion yuan in total funding [2] Financial Performance - In 2024, Yunji's revenue grew by over 130% year-on-year, with overseas market growth nearing 700%, achieving stable profitability [3] - During the Double Twelve shopping festival, Yunji ranked first in market share for vacuum cleaners in China, narrowing the gap with leading competitors like Roborock and Ecovacs [3] Industry Competition - The global vacuum cleaner market shipped 20.6 million units in 2024, reflecting an 11% year-on-year increase, with a market value of approximately $900 million [5] - Roborock led the global market with a 16% share in shipment volume and 22.3% in sales revenue, surpassing iRobot for the first time [4] - Ecovacs held a 13% global market share, while other competitors like Dreame Technology achieved around 8% [6] Market Positioning - Yunji achieved the highest market share in China's vacuum cleaner market during the Double Twelve period, although it still lags behind top brands globally [6] - The company has made significant strides in product innovation, introducing features like automatic cleaning cloths and water management systems, enhancing its competitive edge [7] - Yunji's rapid expansion into over 30 countries has established a solid foundation for increasing its market share [7] Future Outlook - Following its recent financing, Yunji has the opportunity to enhance its market position, but it must continue to invest in technology development and market channel expansion to compete effectively against Roborock, Ecovacs, and Dreame [8]