Modparten, det tyske selskab, rejste indsigelse mod rettens kompetence og påberåbte sig en klausul i kontrakten (der var indgået i august 1969), hvorefter en tysk ret skulle være kompetent vedrørende eventuelle tvistigheder.
The German undertaking entered an appearance and objected to the jurisdiction of the court, relying on a clause in the contract, concluded in August 1969, which provided that a German court should have jurisdiction in any disputes.