In a surprising move, Japanese company BWB Inc has filed lawsuits against Alibaba Group in three different countries, alleging that Alibaba has infringed upon its cross-border e-commerce patents. BWB is seeking court orders for injunctions or damages against Alibaba.

Based in Tokyo, BWB Inc operates as a patent licensing company, deriving its livelihood from licensing patents internationally. The company holds patents related to customs clearance and logistics. Last Friday, BWB filed for an injunction against Alibaba's overseas transactions in the Seoul Central District Court. Earlier this year, BWB had also filed injunctions and damages claims against Alibaba in the Tokyo District Court in April and the Northern District of California Court in November. The trial in the United States is scheduled to begin on February 13 next year.

BWB's system assists merchants in pre-registering goods with customs at predetermined tax rates and facilitates customers in paying duties at the time of purchase, ensuring smooth delivery. According to court documents related to the lawsuit filed in Japan, BWB is seeking injunctions against Alibaba, its logistics subsidiary Cainiao Group, and Tmall operator Taobao China Holdings Limited.

In response to the legal actions, an Alibaba spokesperson stated that the company would not comment on ongoing litigation. Previously, Alibaba had denied infringing on BWB's patents and requested the Tokyo court to dismiss the charges. Kota Morimoto, a spokesperson for BWB, confirmed that lawsuits had been filed in three countries but declined to provide further comments.

Alibaba's international division, including businesses like AliExpress and Lazada, has become one of the fastest-growing segments for the company. Cross-border logistics, driven primarily by Cainiao, has been a significant growth factor. According to Alibaba's second-quarter financial report, Cainiao Group generated revenue of ¥22.823 billion, marking a 25% year-on-year increase.