AUX vs. Gree Patent War: How a 220 Million RMB Judgment Ended in Total Invalidation

WISECODE Take

The patent war between AUX and Gree, seemingly a battle over a massive 220 million RMB damages award, is in essence an ultimate endurance test of patent stability. Many business owners mistakenly believe that winning a first-instance court judgment seals the victory, overlooking that a patent can be completely invalidated at any time during administrative review. This is like a soccer match where AUX scored first with a patent infringement lawsuit, leading by 220 million RMB, only for Gree to launch a counterattack by filing an invalidation request with the patent office. Ultimately, the core patent was declared completely invalid, akin to AUX having its goal disallowed due to an offside violation, resulting in a sudden reversal and elimination. This warns executives that the power of a patent weapon depends on its quality and stability; if the patent is struck down in invalidation proceedings, all prior litigation investments and high claims vanish. To avoid this, we recommend consulting professional teams for a Patent Portfolio Health Check to ensure your IP remains rock-solid amid market storms.