On 14 February 2020, Schrader was found to have contributed to and induced infringement of Wasica Finance GmbH and BlueArc Finance AG’s 524 patent. The patent relates to tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) technology. As a result, the claimants were awarded US$31.2 million in royalty damages.
It isn’t just idle words when Bridgestone says it “takes seriously any unauthorised use or infringement of its patents, trademarks or any other intellectual property.” A fortnight after reporting that a Chinese court ruled in its favour in a patent infringement lawsuit Wanli Tire, the tyre maker shares it has received a favourable ruling from the Intermediate People’s Court in Qingdao. The ruling relates to its design patent infringement lawsuit against Chinese firm Shengtai Group and its subsidiary, Shandong Shengshi Tai Lai Rubber Technology Co., Ltd.
A German court has ruled that certain Aeolus truck tyres infringe an EU design patent held by Continental. The matter has been resolved by an out-of-court settlement that covers damages and a recall of the products in question.
At the end of October, electric vehicle pioneer Tesla announced that it had patented its own tyre inflation technology.
A further victory for Bridgestone Corporation in its battle against patent infringement was delivered by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, which ruled favourably in its lawsuit against Chinese tyre manufacturer Fangxing Rubber Co., Ltd. (Fangxing).
Directa Plus plc, a producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, announces that the Ufficio Brevetti e Marchi (Italian Patent and Trademark Office) has granted the Company a patent for the product and application of its new graphene-based solution for enhancing the performance of tyres. Specifically, the patent covers Directa Plus’ ‘elastomeric composition comprising graphene and tyre components comprising said composition’.
A patent has been granted in India for a special grade of epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) jointly developed by the research and development team at Apollo Tyres and the Rubber Research Institute of India. The tyre rubber compound was granted patent no. 287630 by the Government of India’s Patent Office on 21 September.
On 26 September, Michelin North America, Inc., filed suit against Tire Mart Inc., doing business as Braven Off-Road, alleging the company has infringed a design patent covering the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tyre.
Valeo has taken first place in France’s 2016 INPI industrial property institute rankings, with 994 patents published in 2016 against 668 in 2015 (third place). This achievement consolidates its technological leadership, the company states.
Netherlands-based leading tyre manufacturing machinery maker VMI reports that it has won its first patent invalidation case against Chinese firm Safe-Run. As part of ongoing legal action commenced by VMI against Safe-Run, VMI filed for invalidation of a number of Safe-Run patents. Recently, the Chinese Patent Review Board has ruled in this case and invalidated the first Safe-Run patent in its entirety as the patent “was based on prior art”.
Dutch machinery manufacturer VMI has initiated legal action against Jiangsu province, China-based company Safe-Run. VMI reports that the Chinese machinery manufacturer has infringed several of its patents, and the legal action follows repeated warnings that it should cease doing so.
Several news sources have shared news of Daimler’s filing of a patent to optimise tyre temperature, and thus grip, through the use of a high pressure water system. The patent was reportedly filed with the Intellectual Property Office in the UK and pertains to a system that is triggered by temperature sensors in a tyre.
The Chinese Intellectual Property Court has upheld VMI’s claims against Shuangjun Plastic and Rubber Machinery Ltd. and awarded the full compensation requested by VMI to be paid by Shuangjun. The Chinese Patent Management Bureau ruled that Shuangjun was guilty of patent infringement against VMI’s patent for its tyre building drum back in 2015.
On 13 May Michelin North America, Inc. filed suit against Atturo Tire Corporation and Svizz-One Corporation Ltd. alleging the companies infringed a design patent covering the Michelin Latitude tyre tread design.
