Patent infringement investigation - Toyota Hybrids

[bob259]

On the news Friday. It will be interesting to see if it has any merit:

Friday February 10, 5:50 AM EST

TOKYO (Reuters) - A U.S. trade body is to investigate a complaint that Toyota Motor Corp.'s popular Prius and Highlander hybrid models infringed a patent, according to the body's website.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will look at a claim that the patent is owned by Florida-based Solomon Technologies Inc., it said.

Solomon Technologies filed a complaint with the panel last month saying the hybrid transmission in the two popular vehicles infringed its patent related to motor and transmission systems.

If the ITC agrees with Solomon, Japan's top auto maker could be banned from importing the systems and the Prius and Highlander hybrid models that they power. The ITC said opening a case does not mean it has made any decision on the merits.

A Toyota spokesman said it cannot comment on ongoing cases.

In September, Solomon applied to a Florida federal district court for an injunction against Toyota barring infringement and damages for unauthorized use of its patented technologies.

Toyota sold 110,000 Prius models and 18,800 Highlander hybrid SUVs in North America last year.

©2005 Reuters Limited.

[42GAMI]

damn, that sux. again!


hey, is there an echo in here???

[My03Tundra]

Wow, that bites. I doubt a Japanese developed system would risk patent infringment. Even though Toyota is a business oriented company, naturally, they abide by strict honor an ethics in their business dealings. It is dishonorable to steal another company's technology.

But, to reverse engineer and re-implement it is another story. I have a strong feeling this case or "complaint" holds no merrit.

[mustang67408]

This also happened a few years ago and toyota settled out of court with the people.
The same thing will probably happen again.
You still see priuses/highlanders and soon camry's, and eventually every vehicle toyota has will have a hybrid option.
Toyota will win even if it costs them some money, it's not like they're not making any.........
Remember who's lawyers are bigger

[currybob]

Thats very odd that they wait, what 6 years before they found something they had a patent on, in the Prius.


Bob