Paice files patent infringement against Toyota, asks U.S. to ban Toyota hybrid imports

Posted: Oct 06, 2009
Filed under: Hybrids, Green News, Industry News, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius

The U.S. trade panel plans to investigate an allegation that Toyota Motor Crop has infringed patented technology to make its hybrid vehicles. The U.S. International Trade Commission said that Paice LLC, based in Florida, has asked it to order Toyota to stop using the infringing technology to produce its hybrids and to bar imports on its fuel-saving vehicles.

Paice has also filed a similar suit in a U.S. court in Texas, a popular venue for infringement suits. That suit asks Toyota to pay fees to Paice based on the number of hybrids sold.

The suit also includes Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Motor Sales.

“Toyota itself has many patents on the hybrid technology and believes that it has strong defenses against all of Paice’s claims and that it will prevail in the ITC proceeding,” Toyota said in a statement.

Toyota has appealed Paice’s claim to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Reuters

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  • Anguillas
    This will end like the BlackBerry suit a few years ago ... Toyota may be guilty but they will do something as extreme as haulting sales.
  • Emma
    The question needs to be answered is which patent(s) Paice alleges Toyota is infringing? The first thing Toyota might do is to have that particular patent of Paice be ordered under the re-exam process by the USPTO. My understanding is that patents issued by the Office is very specific to a specific feature.

    As a side note, Paice does not have to license or manufacturer the alleged patented features. The patent gives Paice 20 years from filing the exclusive right to make and/or license that feature. What Paice really wants is for Toyota to pay them fees for cross-licensing. Patents are just another tool for the patentee to sue someone else.
  • zermatt
    The first question that needs to be asked is Paice's patent is based on concepts (as opposed to truly technical designs)? The second question is does Paice manufacture anything related to the patent that they claim is being infringed? Teh third question is does Paice license this technology to any other company and does that company manufacture anything with that patent?

    If the answer these questions is yes, no and no, then this is a patent troll company and should not be allowed to file a suit.
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