BMW Intervenes in Dispute with Arigna Technology and Longford Capital to Recover Costs

BMW Intervenes in Dispute with Arigna Technology and Longford Capital

Luxury car manufacturer BMW has taken legal action to intervene in a dispute between Irish patent holding company Arigna Technology and litigation funder Longford Capital. The move comes after BMW successfully defended a series of patent infringement claims by Arigna and is now seeking to recover its costs.

In a filing with the US District Court for the District of Delaware, BMW claims it is owed “significant funds” from Arigna’s unsuccessful campaign against it in Germany, which was allegedly supported by Longford. The carmaker asserts that it holds a substantial financial interest in the funds that Arigna and Longford are disputing, and that its interest will be impaired if it is not allowed to participate in the action.

The funding dispute between Arigna and Longford was initiated by Arigna in December and concerns claims on proceeds from third party IP rights. Longford has responded by seeking to dismiss the claim and compel arbitration, a move that Arigna has opposed.

BMW has faced multiple patent infringement claims from Arigna in various jurisdictions, including the US and Germany, since February 2021. In Germany, two cases have been decided in BMW’s favor, with two more pending. BMW anticipates that the German court will order Arigna to pay between $380,000 and $1.1 million in fees.

The legal battle between Arigna, BMW, and Longford has seen several twists, including a motion by Arigna’s US counsel to withdraw from representing the company in a claim before the Eastern Virginia district court. Despite opposition from both Arigna and BMW, the dispute was ultimately resolved with BMW securing a zero-dollar resolution.

While one patent dispute between Arigna and BMW remains pending in the US, BMW is now represented in the Delaware case by legal experts Lionel M. Lavenue and Andrew E. Russell. The outcome of this complex legal saga remains to be seen as the parties continue to navigate the intricacies of patent law and litigation.