Toyota Under Fire for Hybrid Technology

ryogajyc · 01-13-2006, 02:18 PM

Full Article
US Patent 5,067,932

A technology company is taking aim at Toyota, saying that the company's gas-electric hybrid Prius and Highlander vehicles infringe on its U.S. patents.
Solomon Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its litigation against Toyota by filing a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington D.C. This action is in addition to the action already filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida last September.

The ITC acts as an administrative investigative body to determine, among other things, whether or not goods imported into the United States infringe U.S. patents.
Solomon president Peter W. DeVecchis, Jr., said, "The filing of the ITC complaint is the next step in our effort to fully prosecute the alleged infringement by Toyota and to protect our valuable intellectual property. We believe that the ITC's streamlined administrative process, as well as the technical depth of the ITC staff, will be helpful in expediting and supporting our claims." He continued, "While the ITC can not assess damages against an infringer, it can issue an exclusion order prohibiting the importation of infringing technology. We will continue our effort to protect our intellectual property to the fullest extent possible."

Solomon brought suit against Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, on September 12, 2005, claiming infringement of a number of claims in Solomon's U.S. Patent Number 5,067,932, primarily relating to Toyota's use of the technology in its Prius and Highlander Hybrid vehicles.

If Solomon were successful in its ITC action, Toyota could be prohibited from importing into the United States infringing combination motor and transmission systems and those products containing such systems, including the Toyota Prius and Highlander models.

mdmikemd · 01-13-2006, 02:21 PM

Glad I got mine in time!

malorn · 01-13-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ryogajyc@Jan 13 2006, 01:18 PM
Full Article
US Patent 5,067,932

A technology company is taking aim at Toyota, saying that the company's gas-electric hybrid Prius and Highlander vehicles infringe on its U.S. patents.
Solomon Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its litigation against Toyota by filing a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington D.C. This action is in addition to the action already filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida last September.

The ITC acts as an administrative investigative body to determine, among other things, whether or not goods imported into the United States infringe U.S. patents.
Solomon president Peter W. DeVecchis, Jr., said, "The filing of the ITC complaint is the next step in our effort to fully prosecute the alleged infringement by Toyota and to protect our valuable intellectual property. We believe that the ITC's streamlined administrative process, as well as the technical depth of the ITC staff, will be helpful in expediting and supporting our claims." He continued, "While the ITC can not assess damages against an infringer, it can issue an exclusion order prohibiting the importation of infringing technology. We will continue our effort to protect our intellectual property to the fullest extent possible."

Solomon brought suit against Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, on September 12, 2005, claiming infringement of a number of claims in Solomon's U.S. Patent Number 5,067,932, primarily relating to Toyota's use of the technology in its Prius and Highlander Hybrid vehicles.

If Solomon were successful in its ITC action, Toyota could be prohibited from importing into the United States infringing combination motor and transmission systems and those products containing such systems, including the Toyota Prius and Highlander models.

[snapback]189325[/snapback]

Just curious, where did the headline come from?

slortz · 01-13-2006, 02:26 PM

Same as this thread: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14779&hl=
and I think even that one came after an earlier one pointing out this lawsuit.

ceric · 01-13-2006, 02:32 PM

Those things usually got settled out of court before the real drama begins. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Soloman is making noises in an effort to get more money for its alleged patent. I own seveal US patents myself. US Patent application/approval process is ... (how should I put it gracefully?) lousy. A person or an entity owning a patent in US does not mean one is sided with the law. It is up to legal challenge to determine whether the patent itself is even valid. In short, patent approval in US does not mean US goverment agreed that one's patent is, in fact, a patent.

**tag** · 01-13-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ceric@Jan 13 2006, 02:32 PM
I wouldn't worry about it at all. Soloman is making noises in an effort to get more money for its alleged patent.

Yup! Put it this way; Solomon has a current market cap of around $6 million while Toyota has cash and cash equivalents of around $15 billion. Can't see a whole heck of a lot to worry about there.

Jack 06 · 01-13-2006, 07:05 PM

Mebbe we'll be ordering '07 Solomons.

DaveG · 01-14-2006, 06:06 AM

All Toyota has to do is prove prior art and this patent will vanish in a puff of smoke...

Toyota has been in business long before this patent was filed - and I wouldn't be at all surprised if having a CVT using a planetary drive system was in their engineering portfolio long before that, even if they didn't bother announcing it to anyone (why would they?).

Heck, the Ford Model T had a planetary drive system around 1910...

Look just a bit familiar? Of course it's not the same thing as there's only one power input, but given the basic concept is that old, I find it difficult to believe there's no prior art before 1990...

It's a non-issue :P

(of course as a last resort, Toyota could just send a team of ninjas over to vanish the patent holders

Dave

mdmikemd · 01-14-2006, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveG@Jan 14 2006, 06:06 AM

(of course as a last resort, Toyota could just send a team of ninjas over to vanish the patent holders

Dave

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And those Ninjas will be heavily armed...with checks with lots of zeros!

spwolf · 01-14-2006, 07:59 AM

US company that decided to sue Toyota in GERMANY? :-). So much for that...

01-13-2006, 02:18 PM	#1
ryogajyc Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Reseda, CA Posts: 252 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Full Article US Patent 5,067,932 A technology company is taking aim at Toyota, saying that the company's gas-electric hybrid Prius and Highlander vehicles infringe on its U.S. patents. Solomon Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its litigation against Toyota by filing a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington D.C. This action is in addition to the action already filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida last September. The ITC acts as an administrative investigative body to determine, among other things, whether or not goods imported into the United States infringe U.S. patents. Solomon president Peter W. DeVecchis, Jr., said, "The filing of the ITC complaint is the next step in our effort to fully prosecute the alleged infringement by Toyota and to protect our valuable intellectual property. We believe that the ITC's streamlined administrative process, as well as the technical depth of the ITC staff, will be helpful in expediting and supporting our claims." He continued, "While the ITC can not assess damages against an infringer, it can issue an exclusion order prohibiting the importation of infringing technology. We will continue our effort to protect our intellectual property to the fullest extent possible." Solomon brought suit against Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, on September 12, 2005, claiming infringement of a number of claims in Solomon's U.S. Patent Number 5,067,932, primarily relating to Toyota's use of the technology in its Prius and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. If Solomon were successful in its ITC action, Toyota could be prohibited from importing into the United States infringing combination motor and transmission systems and those products containing such systems, including the Toyota Prius and Highlander models. __________________ Joe 2004 Tideland Pearl BC Goodyear Assurance TripleTreds (195/60-15) \| Molded Splashguards \| EV Button (OEM) \| Huper Optik Ceramic 50/60 \| BT Tech Stiffening Plate

01-13-2006, 02:32 PM	#5
ceric Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 806 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Those things usually got settled out of court before the real drama begins. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Soloman is making noises in an effort to get more money for its alleged patent. I own seveal US patents myself. US Patent application/approval process is ... (how should I put it gracefully?) lousy. A person or an entity owning a patent in US does not mean one is sided with the law. It is up to legal challenge to determine whether the patent itself is even valid. In short, patent approval in US does not mean US goverment agreed that one's patent is, in fact, a patent. __________________ 2005' Tideland Prius (Dec, 2004) Life time MPG = 45+ Mods Done: body-side moldings, wood dash kit, rear bumper applique, ultrasound backup sensors, backup camera, signal mirrors, BT stiffening plate, 205/60R15 tires, leather-trim interior, all-weather mats, shark-fin antenna Mods Planned: 16" or 17" light-alloy wheels, front strut-tower brace

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01-13-2006, 02:21 PM	#2
mdmikemd Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 426 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Glad I got mine in time!

01-13-2006, 02:26 PM	#4
slortz Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 316 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Same as this thread: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=14779&hl= and I think even that one came after an earlier one pointing out this lawsuit.

01-13-2006, 07:05 PM	#7
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Mebbe we'll be ordering '07 Solomons.

01-14-2006, 06:06 AM	#8
DaveG Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 807 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: C Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	All Toyota has to do is prove prior art and this patent will vanish in a puff of smoke... Toyota has been in business long before this patent was filed - and I wouldn't be at all surprised if having a CVT using a planetary drive system was in their engineering portfolio long before that, even if they didn't bother announcing it to anyone (why would they?). Heck, the Ford Model T had a planetary drive system around 1910... Look just a bit familiar? Of course it's not the same thing as there's only one power input, but given the basic concept is that old, I find it difficult to believe there's no prior art before 1990... It's a non-issue :P (of course as a last resort, Toyota could just send a team of ninjas over to vanish the patent holders Dave

01-14-2006, 07:59 AM	#10
spwolf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eastern Europe Posts: 350 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	US company that decided to sue Toyota in GERMANY? :-). So much for that...