A German court has ruled against Nestlé, the world’s biggest food company, in its attempt to stop companies from selling generic coffee capsules compatible with Nespresso machines in Germany.

Nestlé’s patents for the coffee machine system do not prevent consumers from using other capsules, the Düsseldorf regional court said Thursday. The capsules are not the key component or a “special feature” of the protected invention, the judges said.

Nespresso faces increased competition as food companies like D.E Master Blenders 1753 seek to sell single-serve capsules that can be used with Nespresso machines. The court’s decisions arose in Nestlé’s suits against Ethical Coffee and Betron.

Nestlé, which had asked for a preliminary injunction, can ask the court to hear the case under full civil-trial process in an effort to get a different decision and can also appeal the ruling.