Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Meet the man who quietly profits from every hybrid sold]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/meet-the-man-who-quietly-profits-from-every-hybrid-sold/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/meet-the-man-who-quietly-profits-from-every-hybrid-sold/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/meet-the-man-who-quietly-profits-from-every-hybrid-sold/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Alex SeverinksyAlex Severinsky is a Russian man who came to the United States in 1978. He graduated from Ukraine's Kharkiv University of Radioelectronics in 1967 before moving on to an Electrical Engineering Ph.D. from Moscow's Institute for Precision Measurements in Radioelectronics and Physics in 1975. That's the background. Here's the important bit.

In 1994, Severinsky patented an invention he called Hyperdrive, which allows for a seamless transition between drive systems - what essentially allows hybrid vehicles to operate smoothly while switching between gas and electric power. Toyota uses a system similar to Hyperdrive in its hybrid vehicles yet the automaker states they developed this technology independent of Severinsky's research. Regardless, thanks to a lengthy lawsuit, the automaker is now forced to pay Alex Severinksy for every single hybrid vehicle it sells.

Toyota has sold over one million hybrids in the United States and more than two million around the world. It's ordered by the court to pay Paice, an organization which exists solely to litigate companies that may be infringing upon Severinsky's patents, $98 for every single hybrid it sells.

We've followed the court battle between Paice and Toyota for a few years now. Two years ago, the automaker lost its appeal case over the patents for hybrid technology. Just three months ago it settled the dispute with Paice, ahead of a scheduled hearing with the International Trade Commission. Ford, who was pending legal action for the hybrid system in its Fusion, also settled with Paice.

AOL Autos outlines the facts of Alex Severinsky's patents, the Paice organization and how one mans Hyperdrive system has affected numerous automakers. It's an interesting look into the world of patent law and is well worth the read.

[Source: AOL Autos]

Meet the man who quietly profits from every hybrid sold originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex severinskyfordford fusion hybridhybridhybrid carshybridshyperdrivelawsuitspaicePaice LLCpaice patenttoyotatoyota hybridtoyota hybridsTue, 02 Nov 2010 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19697572/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/02/meet-the-man-who-quietly-profits-from-every-hybrid-sold/19697572/article-detail.xml 19697572 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/alex-severinsky-225x300---2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/alex-severinsky-225x300---2.jpg <![CDATA[Followup: Toyota and Severinsky settle hybrid patent dispute ahead of ITC hearing; Ford also settles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/toyota-and-severinsky-settle-hybrid-patent-dispute-ahead-of-itc/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/toyota-and-severinsky-settle-hybrid-patent-dispute-ahead-of-itc/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/20/toyota-and-severinsky-settle-hybrid-patent-dispute-ahead-of-itc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following on the heels of our earlier report about yesterday's scheduled hearing between Toyota and Alex Severinsky at the International Trade Commission came word that the parties have settled. Neither side has released any details about the agreement - and they probably won't. Toyota had previously been found guilty of infringing upon Severinsky's patent, which centers around getting power to a vehicle's wheels with a gasoline-electric vehicle using both high- and low current.

In all likelihood, Toyota agreed to pay royalties to PAICE (Severinsky's company) for all of the hybrids it has sold and will sell in the United States until the patent expires in 2012. This means that the threat of a ban on imports of Toyota hybrids has been lifted - at least until the next case.

In related news, Ford has also settled with PAICE over hybrid patent issues. The details are confidential, but there's a bit more information after the jump.

[Sources: Bloomberg, PAICE]

Continue reading Followup: Toyota and Severinsky settle hybrid patent dispute ahead of ITC hearing; Ford also settles

Followup: Toyota and Severinsky settle hybrid patent dispute ahead of ITC hearing; Ford also settles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex severinskyAlexSeverinskyhybrid patentshybrid sinergy drivehybrid synergy driveHybridPatentsHybridSinergyDriveHybridSynergyDriveintellectual propertyIntellectualPropertypaicepaice lawsuitPaice LLCpaice patentpaice toyotapaice-llcPaiceLawsuitPaiceLlcPaicePatentPaiceToyotapatent infringementpatent lawsuitpatent suitPatentInfringementPatentLawsuitPatentSuittoyotatoyota hybridtoyota hybrid patenttoyota hybrid patentstoyota hybridsToyotaHybridToyotaHybridPatentToyotaHybridPatentsToyotaHybridsTue, 20 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19561128/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/20/toyota-and-severinsky-settle-hybrid-patent-dispute-ahead-of-itc/19561128/article-detail.xml 19561128 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/068_2010toyotaprius-620_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/068_2010toyotaprius-620.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Toyota loses bid to dismiss hybrid patent infringements from Paice]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/28/report-toyota-loses-bid-to-dismiss-hybrid-patent-infringements/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/28/report-toyota-loses-bid-to-dismiss-hybrid-patent-infringements/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/28/report-toyota-loses-bid-to-dismiss-hybrid-patent-infringements/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Things aren't looking good for Toyota in a legal battle over whether or not the Japanese automaker has infringed on a Florida-based company's hybrid drivetrain patents. A U.S. International Trade Commission judge recently ruled to deny Toyota's request to end the lawsuit brought by Paice LLC. Toyota's initial argument was that the plaintiff's patent was invalid, but so far, the courts have sided with the smaller of the two companies time and time again. Earlier in the legal battle, a judge ruled that Toyota must pay Paice LLC a royalty for every Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h model sold. Paice originally wanted Toyota to halt sales of those vehicles entirely.

In response, Toyota has begun the process of arguing against the royalty amount per vehicle, while Paice has filed a new complaint over the technology present in the third-generation Prius, Hybrid Camry, Lexus RX450h and HS250h.

Paice's base complaint is over how the manufacturer is supplying torque from both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine to the drive wheels on those vehicles at the same time. The company has also gone after Ford for the design of its Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid models.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Toyota loses bid to dismiss hybrid patent infringements from Paice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Lexus RX400hLexus RX450hLexusRx400hLexusRx450hpaice lawsuitPaice LLCPaiceLawsuitPaiceLlcpaten lawsuitPatenLawsuitpatent infringementpatent lawpatent lawsuitPatentInfringementPatentLawPatentLawsuitToyotaToyota Camry HybridToyota Highlander HybridToyota HybridsToyota PriusToyotaCamryHybridToyotaHighlanderHybridToyotaHybridsToyotaPriusFri, 28 May 2010 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19495290/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/28/report-toyota-loses-bid-to-dismiss-hybrid-patent-infringements/19495290/article-detail.xml 19495290 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/toyota-250-1275051662_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/toyota-250-1275051662.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota Prius importation under threat due to U.S. patent trade case?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/04/toyota-prius-importation-under-threat-due-to-u-s-patent-trade-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/04/toyota-prius-importation-under-threat-due-to-u-s-patent-trade-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/04/toyota-prius-importation-under-threat-due-to-u-s-patent-trade-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

With every new vehicle introduced by Toyota powered by the automaker's proprietary Hybrid Synergy Drive comes a matching complaint filed by Paice LLC for patent infringement. In the latest case, Paice has filed a grievance with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington alleging that Toyota is violating a patent it holds for powertrains that feature both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor - better known as hybrids.

This isn't the first time these two companies have grappled over hybrid drivetrain patents. Back in 2005, Paice won an initial judgement against Toyota resulting in an order that the automaker to pay Paice monetary damages of $4.3 million, though the judge rejected a request to force Toyota to halt sales of hybrid vehicles in the U.S. at that time. Later, Toyota was ordered to pay royalties equal to a small percentage of every hybrid sold in the States.

This time, Paice is taking a slightly different tack, seeking to get importations of Toyota's super popular Prius hybrid (along with all the rest of the hybrids from Toyota and Lexus) stopped by U.S. Customs right at the docks. According to Bloomberg, it could take about 15 months for the ITC to investigate this case, so there doesn't seem to be any reason to rush out and storm your local Toyota or Lexus dealer for a new hybrid... yet.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: Bloomberg]

Toyota Prius importation under threat due to U.S. patent trade case? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota lawyers arrived at the U.S. Supreme Court today and were denied an appeal to overturn a ruling originally upheld by a federal appeals court in Washington last year. The case involved a technology patent held by a company named Paice LLC, which contended that Toyota used the same microprocessor developed by the McLean, Virginia-based company on its hybrid vehicles that inputs torque information for both the gasoline-powered engine and the electric motor. The $4.3 million dollar award against Toyota will stand, and Toyota is required to pay royalties to the firm to the tune of $25 for every Prius, Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h sold. Ouch. Sometimes the price of success is steep.

[Source: Detroit News]

Toyota loses patent appeal for technology in Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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