ITC Investigating Possible Toyota Hybrid Patent Infringement

[Perian]

Source: Automotive News daily email update

WASHINGTON -- The International Trade Commission will investigate a Florida company's claim that Toyota's hybrid technology infringes on one of its patents.

Solomon Technologies Inc., of Tarpon Springs, Fla., filed the complaint last month against Toyota Motor Corp. and its U.S. affiliates.

The company alleged in a federal lawsuit last September that technology used in the Toyota Prius and Toyota Highlander gasoline-electric hybrids infringes on a Solomon patent.

According to Solomon's complaint, inventor Jonathan Edwards got a patent in 1991 for a "dual-input, infinite-speed integral motor and transmission device" and assigned the patent to Town Creek Industries Inc.

Town Creek discussed the technology with Toyota representatives in 1992 and 1993 but never made a deal, the complaint says.

Solomon subsequently acquired Town Creek.

Solomon provides propulsion systems for marine applications and motors for land vehicles and machinery, including a system that regenerates electricity, according to a company statement.

The trade commission has authority to block imports of products that infringe on U.S. patents. It approved the investigation of Solomon's claim on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Opening an investigation does not mean that the commission has made a decision about the merits of the claim, panel officials said.

Toyota officials were not immediately available for comment.

Article continues at link.

[Perian]

Originally Posted by Perian

Toyota officials were not immediately available for comment.

Can't imagine why.

Maybe Jim Press was out to lunch.

[JonathanRohr]

Them loosing this would make me SO HAPPY.

Not only would it be BAD press for them, it would give complete control over the Hybrid market to US companies.

It would hit the import companies the worst, and in the spot where the import owners love them the most.

[sgfootball2006]

Originally Posted by JonathanRohr

Them loosing this would make me SO HAPPY.

Not only would it be BAD press for them, it would give complete control over the Hybrid market to US companies.

It would hit the import companies the worst, and in the spot where the import owners love them the most.

Imagine the stock market loss for toyota the minute this investigation states that Toyota is infringing on the patent!

[rmodys]

Uh oh.. This may be bad news for Toyota if they actually did wrong with this.

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by sgfootball2006

Imagine the stock market loss for toyota the minute this investigation states that Toyota is infringing on the patent!

Even if this thing ever actually made it to trial, Toyota would just settle. We all know that they have PLENTY of financial resources to pay off any potential litigants.

[steve333]

This would be **** hilarious if Toyota gets hit. I would love every minute of it.

[asim]

What would happen if there was an infringement?

[Driveshaft]

I'm not any more a fan of Toyota than people who have previously commented, but I think some comments are rather harsh.

If they did infringe patents, then shame on them (if they knew it).

But seriously, it'll take a whole hell of a lot more to bring that giant down. I don't wish ill will upon them, but I definitely am not fond of supporting them.

But if they beat us legitimately, I can't argue with that.

[01cavalier]

If Solomon Technologies gets their way, Toyota could be forced to hold off on selling any hybrid models. Other than that, I don't remember anything else about what they want, I'm guessing that would likely just be settled in court.

[logansowner]

Dejavu? I remember seeing this a few months back. And I still think that it's probably a litte company mongering for money. If Toyota knowingly stole the ideas, then they should lose, but I doubt they give a you know what about anything a small company develops, they likely never heard of them before.

And if it turns out the company is just mooching off Toyota, I hope Toyota bankrupts them for being greedy ****************************s.

[Perfectionist]

If Toyota knowingly took the ideas for their hybrids from this company, then that's pretty sh-tty of them. Though, I don't think that's how it all went down.
I'd be willing to bet that Watanabe sat down one morning, went through the inbox, and then spit his coffee out.

[stormwatcher]

Originally Posted by JonathanRohr

Them loosing this would make me SO HAPPY.

Not only would it be BAD press for them, it would give complete control over the Hybrid market to US companies.

It would hit the import companies the worst, and in the spot where the import owners love them the most.

This article is old news. And crowing about Toyota losing is premature malicious gloating. There are hundreds and hundreds of patents on hybrid systems, with even Ford licensing patent technology from Toyota because Ford was concerned they infringed on patents.

The Florida company is a tiny company. They may have a valid patent claim or they may be simply patent trolls looking to collect some easy money from a large company. Best to wait and see more information come out before crowing.

[MrMax]

Originally Posted by Driveshaft

I'm not any more a fan of Toyota than people who have previously commented, but I think some comments are rather harsh.

If they did infringe patents, then shame on them (if they knew it).

But seriously, it'll take a whole hell of a lot more to bring that giant down. I don't wish ill will upon them, but I definitely am not fond of supporting them.

But if they beat us legitimately, I can't argue with that.

Thank you. I'm no Toyota fan, but I don't wish evil upon them either.

Just about anything that helps GM I'm cool with, but if these people are simply trying to slander Toyota, thats not cool.

[TuffG929]

Somebody should start a chain letter exposing strories like these about Toyota. We all know that it will be swept under the carpet by the mainstream media.