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Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadToyota loses patent appeal for technology in Prius
(Page 1 of 1)
naggs @ May 12th 2008 12:17PM
so there, i don't want to hear any more BS about how ford is basically just using old toyota hybrid tech. all companies share and use each others technologies, some just do it legally.
Chris @ May 12th 2008 12:19PM
Ford licensed 26 patents from Toyota. Toyota is also being sued in Germany over a CVT patent related to Hybrids.
Basically its just that the system is so convoluted and such that your never sure where your safe or if someone isn't sitting on a related patent or submarining one.
What is interesting is how low the fine is. This implies it wasn't done intentionally.
naggs @ May 12th 2008 12:28PM
well that is our legal system for you, in that grey area, there is no way to know if you are breaking the law until you get served papers.
Boudu @ May 12th 2008 1:34PM
There's a big difference between companies that actually develop technologies and companies that patent scam companies like Paice. Basically the company is a run by a bunch of patent lawyers sitting on patents waiting to sue companies, they have no intention of actually using technology.
you can look at their website, which basically just lists patnents they own. Also, proudly
http://www.paice.net/Patents/tabid/57/Default.aspx
Matt @ May 12th 2008 2:27PM
Paice LLC is a patent troll. Their business model is to file concepts without the intention of ever developing the idea and to negotiate some kind of licensing deal. Toyota decided it wasn't going to that game.
Take a look at Paice's patent filing. It has the sophistication of a highschool science project. http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=US007237634&SectionNum=1&IDKey=7E07DFC11908&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526d=PALL%2526p=1%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r=1%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526s1=7237634.PN.%2526OS=PN/7237634%2526RS=PN/7237634
Guess what the founder of Paice is doing now. Al Severinsky is patent trolling the alternative fuel industry. I am sure one of his companies will be in the news again in a few years involved in another patent infringement lawsuit seeking royalties as compensation.
FYI, the first patent that I could find describing a hybrid vehicle as we know it today was first filed by Matsukata back in March 1970 patent number 3502165, "GAS-ELECTRIC DRIVEN VEHICLE WITH RETRACTABLE WHEELS"
Since 1970, a host of patents for gas-electric vehicle have been file. The majority of them originating from Japan. The development history of gas-electric (hybrid) is long and documented. It didn't happen overnite.
If Paice LLC, truly had a working hybrid drive system, there would have been a bidding war to buy the company or the technology by ANY of Toyota's competitors. That did not happen, because Paice LLC has developed nothing but vaporware. Very simply, the company is a patent troll that happen to strike it big this time.
If you think the business of patent trolls are good, then go ahead and celebrate. Its certainly seems like a easy way to make a buck, but not what I would call an honest way to earn profits.