Last summer, a sextech war was declared. Just a few months after announcing the acquisition of its competitor Fun Factory, the German giant Satisfyer announced that it had won its lawsuit against the Swedish manufacturer Lelo. At issue was the authorship of a patent for pressure wave clitoral stimulators. Several competing brands were affected by this legal action, but it was Lelo that was attracting all the market's attention. After appealing the first decision handed down in July 2024 by the Düsseldorf court, the company benefited from a turnaround in its favor, this time in Sweden.
Double victory for Lelo
Lelo shared this “double victory“ in a press release. The Swedish courts ruled: the EP 3228297 patent (“Pressure Waves Massage Apparatus“) held by EIS GMBH was invalidated. As a result of this decision, the suction products marketed by Lelo and targeted by the initial complaint (the Sila, Sona, and Enigma models, incorporating the patented SenSonic technology) therefore do not infringe any patents. Although EIS can still appeal this decision, it will be up to it to demonstrate that the court erred in its reasoning.
At the time of the German verdict, Lelo had promised to explore “all available options to rectify the error made” by the court. This decision puts (perhaps) an end to months of legal proceedings, validating once and for all the conformity of its patents, at least in Sweden. Remember that other procedures are still underway in Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, and several other countries.
What does this mean in concrete terms?
In France, no change is on the horizon. No sales ban was expected, so there is no question of a withdrawal from retailers, much less from the brand's official website. Whether you have purchased sex toys from the brand, or are planning to do so, there is nothing to worry about. While the decision currently only concerns Sweden, the brand's country of origin, it could serve as a model in the ongoing litigation between EIS/Satisfyer and other market players. Could this precipitate similar decisions internationally?
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