Align Technology Wins Significant Patent Infringement Case Against Angelalign at Unified Patent Court
SAN JOSE, Calif. & TEMPE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”) (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, welcomes the decision of the Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) finding that aligner systems incorporating Angelalign’s Torque Ridges feature infringe Align’s European Patent EP 2 237 738 B1, which relates to Align’s Power Ridge® technology.
In August 2025, Align initiated patent infringement proceedings against several companies within the Angelalign Technology, Inc. corporate group (“Angel”) (Hong Kong Stock Exchange: 6699.HK) in multiple jurisdictions, including before the UPC, which covers participating European Union member states.
On October 16, 2026, the Paris Local Division of the UPC ruled that aligner systems incorporating Angel’s Torque Ridges feature infringe Align’s patent. The Court rejected Angel’s challenges to the validity of the patent, issued an injunction requiring Angel to recall and destroy infringing products, ordered Angel to pay damages to Align, and granted Align other relief. Angel must cease offering infringing aligner systems incorporating Torque Ridges in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden. The decision is subject to appeal.
Commenting on the UPC decision, Arthur S. Hsieh, Align Technology vice president, Deputy General Counsel, Intellectual Property & Licensing, said, “The ruling represents a significant victory for Align and underscores the importance of protecting the innovations resulting from Align’s substantial and sustained investment in research and development. Angel has sought to downplay the impact of the ruling by emphasizing that Angel recently discontinued Torque Ridges in Europe and introduced a different feature called ‘Pressure Points.’ This should not obscure the significance of the Court’s decision: Angel’s Torque Ridges were found to infringe Align’s patented technology, and Angel has publicly stated that it will comply with the Court’s ruling, which requires Angel to recall and destroy infringing products, pay damages to Align, and take other remedial actions. Similarly, Angel’s characterization of Pressure Points as an “upgrade” or “next generation” of Torque Ridges should not be understood to establish that the two technologies are technically equivalent or that Pressure Points provide an equivalent alternative to Torque Ridges. Angel’s own public materials describe Pressure Points as based on the longstanding use of “hand-made dimples” to apply targeted forces to teeth. Align does not view Angel’s Pressure Points as a technological upgrade to, or an equivalent replacement for, the ridge-based technology at issue in the UPC proceeding.”
Align’s Power Ridge® technology is designed to apply targeted forces to improve root torque control and support predictable tooth movement. The Power Ridge feature remains available as an integral part of the Invisalign® System, providing doctors with differentiated technology to support high-quality patient care.
Align has not taken a public position on whether Angel’s Pressure Points implicate Align’s intellectual property rights. Align will continue to evaluate products and technologies offered by Angel and other market participants and will take appropriate action when necessary to protect its innovations and intellectual property.
The October 16 decision follows other recent developments in Align’s global patent enforcement actions against Angel. In February 2026, the UPC issued a preliminary injunction requiring Angel to cease infringement of Align’s patented ClinCheck® Live Update technology. That decision was subsequently upheld by the UPC Court of Appeal, and proceedings on the merits remain ongoing. In July 2026, the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) conducted an evidentiary hearing concerning five patents asserted by Align against Angel. Align expects an initial determination regarding the merits of its claims in November 2026. In August 2026, the Jinan Intermediate People’s Court in China issued a first-instance judgment finding that Angel’s use of its MasterForce biomechanical simulation system and ATreat digital orthodontic treatment design system to generate A7 and A7 Speed premolar extraction treatment solutions infringes Align’s patent rights. The court further found that aligner products manufactured and sold using the accused technology also infringe. Angel has appealed the Jinan Court’s decision. Align continues to pursue additional patent infringement actions against Angel in China.
Align remains committed to advancing orthodontic treatment through differentiated technologies backed by decades of research, engineering, clinical experience, and investment, and to vigorously protecting the intellectual property underlying those innovations.
Align’s Cutting-Edge Global Operations
As a global leader in digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry with nearly 23.5 million Invisalign® patients treated worldwide, Align continues to transform the orthodontic industry through its global operations, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and doctor-directed treatment planning. Annually, Align invests over $300M in technology to give patients of all ages access to the smiles they want and deserve through Invisalign-trained doctors.
Align’s operations span the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, with clinical treatment planning centers in Costa Rica, Poland, China (Chengdu), Spain, France, Germany, and Japan. The company’s global aligner manufacturing operations includes world-class facilities in Juarez, Mexico; Wroclaw, Poland; and Ziyang, China; Vienna, Austria; San Jose, CA; and a new aligner manufacturing facility coming online in 2027 in Hyderabad, India, together forming the backbone of the world’s largest 3D printing network for dental aligners (appliances).
Align’s investments in global operations are designed to bring its facilities closer to doctor-customers and their patients. In Mexico, the Juarez facility serves as a strategic node in Align’s global supply chain, enabling fast and cost-effective delivery of aligners to customers in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and beyond. In China, the Chengdu treatment planning center and Ziyang manufacturing facility are central to Align’s long-term investment strategy for China, supporting the local economy and one of its fastest-growing markets by helping Chinese doctors provide millions of Chinese consumers access to high-quality orthodontic care. Wroclaw, Poland is the operations hub for Align’s EMEA business, bringing operations and support closer to the more than 63,000 Invisalign-trained doctors in the region.
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 302.0 thousand doctor-customers and are key to accessing Align’s 600-million-consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 29 years, Align has helped doctors treat approximately 23.5 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and labs/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.
For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.
Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261016990429/en/
Align Technology
Madelyn Valente
(909) 833-5839
[email protected]
Zeno Group
Sarah Karlson
(828) 551-4201
[email protected]
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INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Medical Devices Health Professional Services Dental Legal
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