Toyota Settles Infringement Case Over Hybrid Patent

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

Susan Decker in Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest automaker, settled a patent-infringement dispute that had threatened imports of its newest hybrid vehicles, including the Prius.

The agreement was announced today as a hearing was set to begin on a claim by Paice LLC, founded by Alex Severinsky, against Toyota before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed.

Severinsky, a Soviet emigrant who began his career developing antitank-warfare instrumentation, had said his 1994 patented system for a high-voltage method to power gas-electric hybrid cars was used by Toyota without permission. Severinsky, 65, spent years trying to get the automaker to pay royalties.

“Finally people understand the merits of what I invented and give it the proper value,” Severinsky said today in an interview. “Toyota is the leading technology company and finally appreciates the value of the invention.”



Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-19/toyota-settles-infringement-case-over-hybrid-patent.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Doing the right thing, unlike Ford or Chrysler, who let the windshield wiper suit drag on forever

Glad Toyota is settling this.

[Romulox]

2. LOL. Something somebody dead did 40 or 50 years ago excuses this!

Union yes, btw!

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. There's nothing to excuse

A lawsuit was settled. Where's the wrongdoing?

[Romulox]

6. Um, logically, the settling of this lawsuit is an admission of guilt

(though it is not legally such.)

The wrongdoing is patent infringement. A cursory review of the OP (which contains all of this information,) would've answered all of your questions.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I don't have any questions

I have a statement, which I made. Toyota did the right thing to settle this, unlike Ford and Chrylser, who allowed a similar patent infringement lawsuit to drag on for years. There was even a movie made about it.

[Romulox]

8. There was a question mark at the end of your so-called "statement"

to which I responded:

Where's the wrongdoing?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4470720&mesg_id=4470763

It's odd that you need me to remind you of the content of your "statement", just above my previous response to you. Makes me wonder about your recollection as to the content of that movie! :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. It was a rhetorical question

[Romulox]

10. So your next move is to consult Merriam-Webster

Either way, your responses to me are incoherent, when taken together.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Not sure if it was the right thing, but it was the practical thing

What he patented was pretty damn obvious. The market is so large that Toyota did not have any real choice. Presumptively he has reached agreements with other companies.

[Romulox]

3. Congratulations to Mr. Severinsky. I'm sure the recognition means as much as the money. nt