Jaguar Land Rover has suffered an early setback in its legal battle with BYD, after a Dutch court ordered the British carmaker to destroy the evidence it seized during a raid on the Chinese firm's European headquarters.

The ruling came at a hearing in The Hague, the first stage in a wider dispute over claims that BYD copied the design of JLR's Defender 4x4 when developing its new Ti7 SUV, which is due to go on sale in the UK in January 2027. JLR has launched separate proceedings in The Hague, alleging infringement of its model rights to the Defender, and in Rotterdam, alleging copyright infringement and "slavish imitation" of the Defender. However, Monday's hearing was called at BYD's request, not JLR's.

Presiding judge Hugo van Heemstra heard BYD's argument that JLR's seizure of documents and files from its Dutch offices amounted to a "fishing expedition" that went far beyond the scope of the copying allegations. The judge agreed, ruling that the material taken by JLR during a surprise raid on BYD's European headquarters in August was not relevant to the copying claims.

As a result, JLR has been ordered to either destroy the seized evidence or hand it back to BYD within 24 hours, with the court threatening fines of €50,000 per hour for any delay in compliance.

Court documents revealed the extent of what JLR had taken during the raid, including launch plans for the Ti7, technical specifications, sensitive financial data and any files BYD held relating to the Land Rover Defender. Bailiffs reportedly made electronic copies of material from BYD's IT systems at its European and Dutch sites, alongside physical copies of paper records found on the premises.

It also emerged that JLR had attempted to fine BYD €500,000 for allegedly failing to comply with the court-ordered seizure. BYD countered that the scope of the evidence grab was excessive and unrelated to the copying complaint, arguing it should not be penalised as a result.

Judge van Heemstra sided with BYD, noting that JLR could not demonstrate it had been harmed by the Ti7, since the model is not yet on sale in the EU. JLR was additionally ordered to pay BYD €25,376.57 (around £21,100) in legal costs.

The ruling marks only the opening round in a legal fight expected to continue as the main copying case proceeds through the Dutch courts.

Source: Electrifying.com

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