1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Toyota issues writ over hybrid patent

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Areometer, Apr 1, 2006.

  1. Areometer

    Areometer Silver Business Sponsor

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2004
    578
    6
    0
    Location:
    Tyngsboro, MA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    JAPANESE motor giant Toyota has stepped up hostilities in a battle with Aim-listed Antonov over the rights to the hybrid engine technology used in its Prius and Lexus models.

    Toyota has issued a writ in Japan challenging one of Antonov’s automotive transmission patents in what appears to be an attempt to drive the British company out of business.

    Antonov filed an action against Toyota a year ago in Germany, where legal costs are capped, claiming that the drive- lines of the second-generation Toyota Prius and the Lexus RX400h infringe its patents.

    The German case is due to be heard in August. If the judge rules in Antonov’s favour, Toyota could face a bill of £100m (E145m, $178m) or more in royalties to the automotive technology developer and Antonov could force Toyota to stop production of Prius and Lexus hybrids.

    Toyota has already sold around 250,000 hybrid vehicles, and expects to sell 300,000 units in 2006, reaching more than 1m a year by 2010. The Prius costs £17,795 upwards.

    “If we win both cases, in theory we could stop Toyota selling cars in Germany and roll this out to other countries where we have a patent,†said John Moore, chief executive of Antonov.

    Analysts reckon it could cost Antonov up to E300,000 to progress the case through the German courts. The company will need E1m more to defend itself in the Japanese courts.

    >> Original Link
     
    #1 Areometer, Apr 1, 2006
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Gonna be a hard-fought battle on both sides.
     
    #2 TonyPSchaefer, Apr 1, 2006
  3. bgdrewsif

    bgdrewsif New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2006
    497
    0
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona (formerly Bowling Green, Ohio)
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    So... what exactly is the problem here??? Who did what??? (and is toyota going to stop making priuses???)
     
    #3 bgdrewsif, Apr 1, 2006
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    #4 TonyPSchaefer, Apr 1, 2006
  5. Black2006

    Black2006 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    198
    6
    0
    Unfortunately, it looks like Toyota's engineers were under a lot of pressure to get the Prius out of the door, and in the process may have cut a few corners by pilfering a few ideas. Now they don't want to pay:)
     
    #5 Black2006, Apr 5, 2006
  6. Red Ginger

    Red Ginger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    43
    0
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Apr 4 2006, 09:36 PM) [snapback]235168[/snapback]</div>
    So if Antonov wins this dispute, does the judge shut off all the Priuses, just like those Blackberry things?
     
    #6 Red Ginger, Apr 5, 2006
  7. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2003
    1,763
    6
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Apr 5 2006, 03:36 AM) [snapback]235168[/snapback]</div>
    I don't believe you have to go to the Patent Office and dig through the files for ideas to end up infringing on a patent. A good idea is a good idea, even if someone thought of it before you.

    I am hoping the sailboat-aspect of the patent renders it immaterial to a car, though...
     
    #7 mikepaul, Apr 5, 2006
  8. M. Oiseau

    M. Oiseau 6sigma this

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2006
    270
    3
    0
    Location:
    Tulsa, OK
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Toyota hired Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner in D.C. for this case. Finnegan is the 2nd largest intellectual properties law firm in the U.S. and wouldn't have taken the case if they thought they might lose.
     
    #8 M. Oiseau, Apr 5, 2006
  9. Black2006

    Black2006 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2006
    198
    6
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(M. Oiseau @ Apr 5 2006, 07:37 AM) [snapback]235235[/snapback]</div>
    Huh? What do you think, this is a "slip and fall" case and they do it on contingency? It's a big case, they'll get big fees out of it and it will probably get settled at some point.

    BTW, the Antonov "good idea" was fairly well know for a while (if I remember, even Car & Driver did a piece on it in the 90's,) so you didn't have to go digging through the patent office. And no, they are not going to shut down the Prius, but Toyota will probably have to pay some licensing fees.
     
    #9 Black2006, Apr 5, 2006
  10. aaronw

    aaronw Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2006
    40
    1
    0
    I don't know if their patent can be considered valid since planetary gears have been used for many years in automatic transmissions to solve a similar problem. The transmission in my 1991 Ford Probe uses a planetary gear assembly, for example.

    Unfortunately, at least in the US, the patent system is totally out of control and many patents are given for obvious solutions to problems. Patents should be limited to novel or non-obvious solutions only.

    -Aaron (who has a couple patents pending)
     
    #10 aaronw, Apr 5, 2006
  11. M. Oiseau

    M. Oiseau 6sigma this

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2006
    270
    3
    0
    Location:
    Tulsa, OK
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Apr 5 2006, 11:57 AM) [snapback]235319[/snapback]</div>
    I bow before BLACK's superior knowledge and experience. Thank you for setting me straight.
     
    #11 M. Oiseau, Apr 6, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)